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Flabby sculpin (Zesticelus profundorum) — Cottidae

Flabby sculpin

Zesticelus profundorum
Family: Cottidae

The Flabby sculpin (Zesticelus profundorum) is a saltwater fish of the family Cottidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
88.0–2580.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The flabby sculpin is a small sculpin (Cottidae) from cold, deeper waters of the northeast Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a stocky, flabby, grey-brown body with a large head, large pectoral fins and a soft, almost scaleless skin. As a bottom-dweller of the depths it rests on mud bottoms and snaps at small crustaceans and other benthic life. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Flabby sculpin?

The Flabby sculpin has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Flabby sculpin live?

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

How big does the Flabby sculpin get?

The Flabby sculpin grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Flabby sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Flabby sculpin is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slappe diepzee-donderpad sourced
English name
Flabby sculpin sourced
Scientific name
Zesticelus profundorum
Family
Cottidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
88.0 verified
Max depth (m)
2580.0 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

More from the family Cottidae

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