Spatulate sculpin (Icelus spatula)

Scientific name: Icelus spatula Gilbert & Burke, 1912

The Spatulate sculpin (Icelus spatula) is a marine fish of the family Cottidae. Native range: Arctic to Northwest Atlantic, Ungava Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada and Greenland; Kara Sea and southeastern part of Barents Sea.

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Icelus spatula
Family: Cottidae (Sculpins)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 21.0
Common length: 12.9
Depth range: 12–930 m (39–3051 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 12 - 930 m, usually 125 - 150 m
Climate: Polar
Distribution: Arctic to Northwest Atlantic: Ungava Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada and Greenland; Kara Sea and southeastern part of Barents Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries:
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