Rock prickleback (Xiphister mucosus)

Scientific name: Xiphister mucosus Girard, 1858

The Rock prickleback (Xiphister mucosus) is a marine fish of the family Stichaeidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Port San Juan, southeastern Alaska to Santa Cruz Island, southern California, USA.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 71 - 77; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 46 - 50. Caudal small and rounded, directed upward; pectorals as minute flaps. Greenish black with several dusky white bars on posterior part of body, 2 dark bands diverging back from each eye, each band double with a paler center.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Xiphister mucosus
Family
Stichaeidae (Pricklebacks)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
58.0
Depth range
18 m (59 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 18 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Port San Juan, southeastern Alaska to Santa Cruz Island, southern California, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5; tmax=11)

Sources

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

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