Scotian snailfish (Careproctus ranula)

Scientific name: Careproctus ranula Goode & Bean, 1879

The Scotian snailfish (Careproctus ranula) is a marine fish of the family Liparidae. Native range: Northwest Atlantic, St. Lawrence River estuary, east of Newfoundland and off Halifax, Nova Scotia to Virginia, USA.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 46-58; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 42 - 51. White in color, peritoneum silvery, stomach pale.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Careproctus ranula
Family: Liparidae (Snailfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 8.1
Depth range: 20–668 m (66–2192 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 668 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Northwest Atlantic: St. Lawrence River estuary, east of Newfoundland and off Halifax, Nova Scotia to Virginia, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=10-20)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026