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Puget Sound sculpin (Ruscarius meanyi) — Cottidae

Puget Sound sculpin

Ruscarius meanyi
Family: Cottidae

The Puget Sound sculpin (Ruscarius meanyi) is a saltwater fish of the family Cottidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–82.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Puget Sound sculpin is a small sculpin (Cottidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, off northwestern North America. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a stocky, brown-mottled body with a large, bony head and spines on the gill cover. As a bottom-dweller it lives among rocks, kelp and on gravelly bottoms of shallow coastal water and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Puget Sound sculpin?

The Puget Sound sculpin has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Puget Sound sculpin live?

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

How big does the Puget Sound sculpin get?

The Puget Sound sculpin grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Puget Sound sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Puget Sound sculpin is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Puget Sound-donderpad sourced
English name
Puget Sound sculpin sourced
Scientific name
Ruscarius meanyi
Family
Cottidae
Other names
Puget Sound sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.9 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
82.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Ruscarius

More from the family Cottidae

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