Scientific Name
Lumpenus lampretaeformis

Common Name
Snakeblenny

Biology
A benthic species (Ref. 58426), living in Y-shaped tubes in the mud in 50-200 m depth (Ref. 35388). The burrows are believed to be used for parental care of the eggs (Ref. 80819) . Feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, brittle stars and worms (Ref. 5204). Matures at 3 years with about 20 cm length. Spawning takes place in December - January, 1,000 eggs are laid on the sea floor, in deep water (Ref. 35388). Isolated population in the Baltic Sea is probably a relict from the last ice age (Ref. 35388) that reached the Baltic Sea during the early saltwater stage of the sea (Ref. 82152; 82153).

Classification

Classified By

Walbaum, 1792

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Pricklebacks (Stichaeidae)

Distribution

Region

North Atlantic

Distribution

North Atlantic: Spitsbergen southward to Scandinavian coasts, North Sea, southern part of the Baltic, the Faroes, Iceland and south-eastern coasts of Greenland, Elsewhere, western coasts of Greenland; also, Labrador and Newfoundland to Massachusetts Bay (subspecies Lumpenus lumpretaeformis serpentinus Storer).

Range

80°N - 41°N, 71°W - 55°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

30 m

Depth To - meters

373 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 30 - 373 m (Ref. 58426), usually 40 - 100 m (Ref. 51666)

Trophic Level

3.59 s.e. 0.48 Based on food items.

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

50.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 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 (50 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.20; tmax=9;)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated