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November
2011
photo© 2011 Janna Nichols
Think
you know what it is? Click here for the answer and more ID tips!!
ANSWER!
If
you guessed Spinynose Sculpin, you're right!
Asemichthys
taylori
Sculpin Family
This
fish is one cool cat. Although diminutive in size, often less than three
inches, he makes up for being small by staying late at the various cool
fish hangouts and as he always getting home late from his various engagements,
he is easily identified by his "five o'clock shadow" on his
lower jaw below the eye. This fish is seen most often on the bottom, taking
it easy and hanging out until his next engagement and dressed impeccably
in olive or brown colors. Sometimes, to catch a little sleep, they may
burrow in algae or a shell bottom. Although popular in many places along
cool fish row, little is known about his personal life and to see him
is always a treat.
If you guessed spiny nose sculpin (Asemichthys taylori) good for you!
These sometimes very cryptic fish are for folks who like to spend a lot
of time looking at the substrate on the bottom for critters. The largest
recorded specimen was 3 inches long so they are small! They are usually
olive brown or a drab brownish color. They may also be pink or red from
hiding in algae. They have 4 ventral stripes or "saddles" and
have a smooth round head. Their usual behavior is to just lie motionless-
a calm approach by a diver will allow some good macro photo opportunities.
They are very distinctive with their "unshaven" darkly marked
lower jaw.
Little is known about this tiny fish, so make sure to record them when
you see them. One of my favorite critters to see personally!
-
Contributed by Laura Tesler, REEF PNW AAT
Critter
of the Month Archives
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2011
- January
- Puget Sound Rockfish
- February
- Invasive Club Tunicate
- March
- Chimney Sponge
- April
- Pacific Staghorn Sculpin
- May
- Invasive Didemnum Tunicate
- June
- Roughback Sculpin
- Jul,
Aug, Sept - no critter :(
- October
- Manacled Sculpin
2010
- January
- Blue Sided vs. Blue Blotched Rockfish
- February
- Northern Feather Duster Worm
- March
- China Rockfish
- April
- Opalescent Nudibranch
- May
- Starry Flounder
- June
- Eccentric Sand Dollar
- July
- Great Sculpin
- August
- Pink Hydrocoral
- September
- Kelp Perch
- October
- Spotted Ratfish
- November
- Northern Abalone
- December
- Bay Pipefish
2009
- January
- Fish Eating Anemone
- February
- Pile Perch
- March
- Orange Cup Coral
- April
- Saddleback Gunnel
- May
- Spot Prawn
- June
- Yellowtail Rockfish
- July
- Strawberry Anemone
- August
- Speckled Sanddab
- September
- Green Sea Urchin
- October
- Mosshead Warbonnet
- November
- China Rockfish
- December
- Cloud
Sponge
2008
- January
- Longfin Gunnel
- February
- Giant Barnacle
- March
- Yelloweye Rockfish
- April
- White Spotted Anemone
- May
- Decorated Warbonnet
- June
- Orange Sea Pen
- July
- Snake Prickleback
- August
- Red Sea Urchin
- September
- Sailfin Sculpin
- October
- Rock Scallop
- November
- Candy Striped Shrimp
- December
- Red Irish Lord
2007
- December
- Spiny Pink Star
- November
- YOY Rockfish
- October
- Coonstripe Shrimp
- September
- Striped Perch
- August
- Red Rock Crab
- July
- Lewis's Moonsnail
- June
- Shiner Perch
- May
- Longfin Sculpin
- April
- Moon Jelly
- March
- Black Rockfish
- February-Tube
Dwelling Anemone
- January
- Cabezon
|
2006
- December
- Sunflower Star
- November
- Vermilion Rockfish
- September/October
Plumose Anemone
- August
- Grunt Sculpin
- March
- July - Giant Nudibranch
- January/February
- Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker
2005
- December
- Penpoint Gunnel
- November
- White Lined Dirona
- October
- Kelp Greenling
- September
- Leather Star
- August
- Tube Snout
- July
- Lion's Mane Jelly and Egg Yolk Jelly
- May
- Buffalo Sculpin
- April
- Northern Kelp Crab
- March
- Brown Rockfish
- February
- GPO vs. Red Octopus
- January
- C-O Sole
2004
- December
- Orange Social Ascidians
- November
- Scalyhead Sculpin
- October
- Yellow Margin Dorid
- September
- Roughback Sculpin
- August
- Fringed Tube Worm
- July
- Pacific Sandlance
- June
- Leafy Hornmouth
- May
- There isn't one! Ooops!
- April
- Oregon Triton
-
March - Painted Greenling vs. Tiger Rockfish
- February
- Dungeness Crab
- January
- Ling Cod
2003
- December
- Slender Legs or Graceful Crab
- November
- Copper Rockfish
- October
- Lacy Bryozoan
- September
- Rock Sole
- August
- Orange Sea Cucumber
- July
- Blackeye Goby
- June
- California Sea Cucumber
- May
- Whitespotted Greenling
- April
- Gumboot Chiton
- March
- Quillback Rockfish
- February
- Shiny Orange Sea Squirt
- January
- English Sole
2002
- December
- Crescent Gunnel
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