Longhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus)

Scientific name: Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus Mitchill, 1814

Longhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus)

The Longhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Cottidae. Native range: Northwest Atlantic, eastern Newfoundland and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to Virginia in USA.

Biology

Commonly found in harbors and shallow coastal waters. Move to deeper water in winter. Adults attach their eggs near the base of a sponge to use as a spawning bed. Benthic; feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, sea squirts, squids and fishes (herring, mackerel, smelt, sand lance and silversides).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus
Family
Cottidae (Sculpins)
Order
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
46.0
Depth range
127 m (417 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 127 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Northwest Atlantic: eastern Newfoundland and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to Virginia in USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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