Swellhead snailfish (Paraliparis cephalus)

Scientific name: Paraliparis cephalus Gilbert, 1892

The Swellhead snailfish (Paraliparis cephalus) is a marine fish of the family Liparidae. Native range: North Pacific, off Commander Islands, central Bering Sea, off Unalaska Island, western Gulf of Alaska, northern British Columbiai to southern California, USA.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 50-57; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 44 - 51; Vertebrae: 57 - 63. Pectoral fin deeply notched. Skin transparent; musculature pale, with scattered melanophores, especially dense near dorsal and anal fin base; mouth pale or light tan; gill cavity blackish; peritoneum and stomach black; pyloric caeca pale.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Paraliparis cephalus
Family: Liparidae (Snailfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 8.2
Depth range: 294–1800 m (965–5906 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 294 - 1800 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: North Pacific: off Commander Islands, central Bering Sea, off Unalaska Island, western Gulf of Alaska, northern British Columbiai to southern California, 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.

Last updated 27 September 2026