Liparis rutteri (Gilbert & Snyder, 1898)
Ringtail snailfish
photo by Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish.

Family:  Liparidae (Snailfishes)
Max. size:  7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 73 m
Distribution:  North Pacific: known only from the Bering Sea, the northern Gulf of Alaska (Kodiak) and southeastern Alaska (Yakutat). Records from further south must be considered highly doubtful, especially if specimens measure greater than 6 or 7 cm.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32-33; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 23-26; Vertebrae: 37-38. A small (less than 70 mm SL) species; caudal fin rays 11-12, pyloric caeca 18-31; body slender, maximum depth 14.6-24.1% SL; disk length 53.7-70.8% HL; skin lax and wrinkled, relatively thin, fragile; prickles present in both sexes at least during spawning; males with elongate, thickened, deeply incised anterior dorsal fin rays (Ref. 50520).
Biology:  Occurs from intertidal areas to 73 m depth (Ref. 2850).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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