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Yellowchin sculpin (Icelinus quadriseriatus) — Cottidae

Yellowchin sculpin

Icelinus quadriseriatus
Family: Cottidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Yellowchin sculpin (Icelinus quadriseriatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Cottidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
6.0–201.0 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 yellowchin sculpin is a small sculpin from the eastern Pacific, off the coast of California and Baja California. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a slender body with a large head, yellow tints on the chin and rows of small spinelets along the back. As a bottom-dweller it rests on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf, between about 6 and 200 metres, and hunts small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellowchin sculpin?

The Yellowchin sculpin has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Yellow chin and small dorsal spines; small bottom sculpin

Where does the Yellowchin sculpin live?

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

How big does the Yellowchin sculpin get?

The Yellowchin sculpin grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Yellowchin sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellowchin 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 Yellowchin sculpin edible?

The Yellowchin sculpin is not usually eaten.

More photos

Yellowchin sculpin (Icelinus quadriseriatus) — Cottidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) hyperiodic, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellowchin sculpin (Icelinus quadriseriatus) — Cottidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jeremy_Jodoin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellowchin sculpin (Icelinus quadriseriatus) — Cottidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jeremy_Jodoin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellowchin sculpin (Icelinus quadriseriatus) — Cottidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Jeremy_Jodoin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Yellowchin sculpin verified
Scientific name
Icelinus quadriseriatus
Family
Cottidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.9 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots 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)
6.0 verified
Max depth (m)
201.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans and worms inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-dwelling sculpin; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Yellow chin and small dorsal spines; small bottom sculpin sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. 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 Icelinus

More from the family Cottidae

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