Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Zoarcoidei (Eelpouts and pricklebacks) >
Lumpenidae (Eel pricklebacks)
Etymology: Lumpenus: Latin, lumpus, an uncouthlooking spiny-finned fish of a leaden-blue colour (Ref. 45335); sagitta: Name from sagitta meaning arrow, referring to the long slender body (Ref. 6885).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 425 m (Ref. 50550). Temperate; 64°N - 33°N, 127°E - 122°W
North Pacific: Sea of Japan and Sakhalin, Russia to St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea to Adak Island in the Aleutian chain and San Francisco, California, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 51.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); max. reported age: 8 years (Ref. 56557)
Dorsal spines (total): 66 - 72; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 45 - 50. Caudal fin narrow with oval free end; anal fin occasionally absent; pectorals large, bluntly pointed (Ref. 6885). Pale green on dorsal surface, cream ventrally; brown or green bars along midside and streaks or spots on upper part of sides; brown bars and dots on dorsal fin form bands parallel to fin margin and, on caudal fin, produce vertical bars; other fins pale; lining of mouth pale (Ref. 6885).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Found in shallow bays and offshore waters (Ref. 2850); on sand mixed with silt, pebbles, and stones to depths of 425; usually shallower than 200 meters (Ref. 51666). Sometimes takes hooks using marine worms as bait (Ref. 6885).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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