Scientific Name
Icelus spiniger

Common Name
Thorny sculpin

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Caudal fin rounded; pectoral fins rounded, reaching anus, lower rays exserted (Ref. 6885). Color brownish on upper surface, paler below; four dark saddles across back; dark bands on dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins, the other fins are plain (Ref. 6885).

Classification

Classified By

Gilbert, 1896

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Sculpins (Cottidae)

Distribution

Region

North Pacific

Distribution

North Pacific: eastern Sea of Okhotsk to Cape Navarin in the Bering Sea to Agattu Island in the Aleutian chain and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

25 m

Depth To - meters

770 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 25 - 770 m (Ref. 6793)

Trophic Level

3.632653 s.e. 0.60 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

24.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries:

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated