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Bonehead sculpin (Artedius notospilotus) — Cottidae

Bonehead sculpin

Artedius notospilotus
Family: Cottidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Bonehead sculpin (Artedius notospilotus) is a saltwater fish of the family Cottidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–52.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The bonehead sculpin is a sculpin from the eastern Pacific, off the west coast of North America. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a stocky body with a large head bearing bony plates and a variable, brown-green colour. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand, mud and rocky bottoms of shallow coastal and estuarine water to about 50 metres and snaps at small crustaceans, worms and fish. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bonehead sculpin?

The Bonehead sculpin has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Large head with bony plates; bottom-dwelling coastal sculpin

Where does the Bonehead sculpin live?

The Bonehead sculpin lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific

How big does the Bonehead sculpin get?

The Bonehead sculpin grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Bonehead sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Bonehead sculpin is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Bonehead sculpin edible?

The Bonehead sculpin is not usually eaten.

More photos

Bonehead sculpin (Artedius notospilotus) — Cottidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Yinan Li, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bonehead sculpin (Artedius notospilotus) — Cottidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Alex Bairstow, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bonehead sculpin (Artedius notospilotus) — Cottidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Ben, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bonehead sculpin (Artedius notospilotus) — Cottidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — David Starr Jordan (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Bonehead sculpin verified
Scientific name
Artedius notospilotus
Family
Cottidae
Other names
Bonyhead sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
52.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, worms and small fishes inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-dwelling coastal sculpin; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Large head with bony plates; bottom-dwelling coastal sculpin sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Artedius

More from the family Cottidae

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