Scientific Name
Malacocottus kincaidi

Common Name
Blackfin sculpin

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Caudal bluntly rounded; pectorals large, emarginate, the inner surface joined to body by a fold of skin; pelvic fins small (Ref. 6885). Color gray to light brown dorsally, lighter below with fine dark speckling; several irregular brown blotches on dorsal surface, and light spots on sides; narrow light bands on margin of all fins (except pelvic) with darker band below; light bands on rayed dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins; mature males with golden margins on dorsal fins during breeding (Ref. 6885).

Classification

Classified By

Gilbert & Thompson, 1905

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Fatheads (Psychrolutidae)

Distribution

Region

North Pacific

Distribution

North Pacific: Hokkaido, Japan and Sea of Okhotsk to Cape Navarin in the Bering Sea, west in the Aleutian Islands to Stalemate Bank and Puget Sound, Washington, USA.

Range

66°N - 40°N, 135°E - 123°W

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

27 m

Depth To - meters

1025 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 27 - 1025 m (Ref. 6793)

Trophic Level

3.39 s.e. 0.45 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

20.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated