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Roughskin sculpin (Trachidermus fasciatus) — Cottidae

Roughskin sculpin

Trachidermus fasciatus
Family: Cottidae

The Roughskin sculpin (Trachidermus fasciatus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Cottidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The roughskin sculpin is a sculpin (Cottidae) from coastal and fresh water of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 16 cm and has a stocky body with a broad, spiny head, large pectoral fins and a scaleless, rough, brown-banded skin. It is catadromous: it grows up in rivers and migrates to sea to spawn. As a bottom-dweller it snaps at small crustaceans, worms and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Roughskin sculpin?

The Roughskin sculpin has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Roughskin sculpin live?

The Roughskin sculpin lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Roughskin sculpin get?

The Roughskin sculpin grows to a maximum of about 14 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Roughskin sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Roughskin sculpin is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Ruwhuid-donderpad sourced
English name
Roughskin sculpin sourced
Scientific name
Trachidermus fasciatus
Family
Cottidae
Other names
Roughskin sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.0 verified
Average length (cm)
11.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
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

More from the family Cottidae

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