Smoothhead sculpin (Artedius lateralis)

Scientific name: Artedius lateralis Girard, 1854

The Smoothhead sculpin (Artedius lateralis) is a marine fish of the family Cottidae. Native range: North Pacific, Komandorski Islands, Russia and the Bering Sea coast of Alaska to the Aleutian chain and Bahia San Quintin, northern Baja California, Mexico.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Caudal fin rounded. Lower 8 pectoral rays thickened and exserted. Pelvic fins small.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Artedius lateralis
Family: Cottidae (Sculpins)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 14.0
Depth range: 0–13 m (0–43 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 13 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North Pacific: Komandorski Islands, Russia and the Bering Sea coast of Alaska to the Aleutian chain and Bahia San Quintin, northern Baja California, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026