Icelus spiniger Gilbert, 1896
Thorny sculpin
photo by Orlov, A.

Family:  Cottidae (Sculpins)
Max. size:  24 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 25 - 770 m
Distribution:  North Pacific: eastern Sea of Okhotsk to Cape Navarin in the Bering Sea to Agattu Island in the Aleutian chain and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-17. Caudal fin rounded; pectoral fins rounded, reaching anus, lower rays exserted (Ref. 6885). Color brownish on upper surface, paler below; four dark saddles across back; dark bands on dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins, the other fins are plain (Ref. 6885).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.