Scientific Name
Cottunculus microps

Common Name
Polar sculpin

Biology
Four bony knobs between and behind the eyes. Skin very rough. Body with 3-4 broad, dark vertical bands (Ref. 35388).

Classification

Classified By

Collett, 1875

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Fatheads (Psychrolutidae)

Distribution

Region

North Atlantic

Distribution

North Atlantic: English Channel, North Sea, Norwegian coastline, Svalbard, southwestern Barents Sea, off Spitzbergen, Bear Island, the Faeroes and Iceland, southeastern coasts of Greenland. Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada and Greenland.

Range

79°N - 38°N, 76°W - 36°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

165 m

Depth To - meters

1342 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 165 - 1342 m (Ref. 58426), usually 165 - 215 m (Ref. 42091)

Trophic Level

3.41 s.e. 0.39 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

30.0 cm

Common Length

14.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (53 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec = 66)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated