Warthead sculpin (Myoxocephalus niger)

Scientific name: Myoxocephalus niger Bean, 1881

The Warthead sculpin (Myoxocephalus niger) is a marine fish of the family Cottidae. Native range: North Pacific, Peter the Great Bay and southwestern coast of Kamchatka, Russia to the Bering Sea.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13. Head with many cirri dorsally. Head and body blackish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Myoxocephalus niger
Family: Cottidae (Sculpins)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 27.0
Common length: 7.5
Depth range: 0–50 m (0–164 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North Pacific: Peter the Great Bay and southwestern coast of Kamchatka, Russia to the Bering Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries:
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 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