Scientific Name
Icelus spatula

Common Name
Spatulate sculpin

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-22; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 18. Young with 2 dark blotches on body, which break up into small dark brown spots in adults; spinous dorsal fin with 1-2 round dark patches, soft part with a few comparatively broad dark stripes; upper part of pectoral fin with transverse stripes; anal and pelvic fins colorless; caudal fin with irregular spots (Ref. 4698).

Classification

Classified By

Gilbert & Burke, 1912

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Sculpins (Cottidae)

Distribution

Region

Arctic to Northwest Atlantic

Distribution

Arctic to Northwest Atlantic: Ungava Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada and Greenland; Kara Sea and southeastern part of Barents Sea (Ref. 4698).

Range

84°N - 45°N

Environment

Climate

Polar

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

- 8 °C

Depth From - meters

12 m

Depth To - meters

930 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 12 - 930 m (Ref. 58426), usually 125 - 150 m (Ref. 56590)

Trophic Level

3.92 s.e. 0.67 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

21.0 cm

Common Length

12.9 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries:

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (40 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