Myoxocephalus scorpius

Shorthorn Sculpin - Myoxocephalus scorpius'''

Habitat Benthic creatures living in up to 350 ft of water with in rocky or sandy areas. These are cold water fish that enjoy spending there time in colder water even during the summer time. Water with temperatures 55 degrees of below.

Range Found on the coast of the Atlantic oceans spanning from the Antarctic ocean down to New York

Description Dark shades of brown in color with spots on the body and stripes on all of their the fins. The belly of female fish are white/yellow. While the males have reddish orange bellies. Equipped with large mouths, flat heads, and a tapered bodies reaching 20-30 cm long.

Ecological Notes Sluggish fish that are almost always on the ocean floor. They have large pectoral fins that open in a wing like manner but if they do need to mover somewhere quickly they my tapper these large fins back allowing for faster speeds.

Personal Information I encountered this fish in the Croatan sound off of Roanoke island. The sculpin was caught off the back of a boat while trolling.

References Marine species identification portal 

Nature Gate

Journal Articles For information on the history of sexual and location changes of the Myoxocephalus scorpius''':

Luksenburg, J. (2002). Sexual and geographical variation in life history parameters of the shorthorn sculpin. Journal of Fish Biology, 61(6), 1453-1464. doi:10.1006/jfbi.2002.2159

For information on a study completed on the food of Myoxocephalus scorpius''':

Moore, I. A., & Moore, J. W. (1974). Food of Shorthorn Sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius, in the Cumberland Sound Area of Baffin Island. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 31(3), 355-359. doi:10.1139/f74-059

Contributed by Megann McArthur- 2018

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