sculpins
buffalo sculpin
Scientific name: Enophrys bison
Family: Cottidae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: Up to 37 centimeters
Depth range: 20 meters
Description: Has a wide head and short, blunt snout. Eyes protrude from the top of the head and are close together. Its body is mottled or speckled with color and can change between shades of brown, green, grey, and brown to match surroundings. Rounded pectoral and caudal fins, with a dark band running through the fin. Prominent scaled lateral line.
Habitat and behavior: Usually found in rocky areas around sponges or sandy areas where it feeds on algae and small fish and invertebrates. This sculpin can also change its color to blend into its surroundings.
cabezon
Scientific name: Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
Family: Cottidae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: 1 meter total length
Depth range: Intertidal to 250 meters
Description: As juveniles, cabezon are bright red. As they mature, their color becomes marbled with light and dark patches. Colors range from dark olive green, to brown or grey. Presence of cirrus on top of snout and above each eye. Very well camouflaged.
Habitat and behavior: Cabezon are typically found on rocky reefs. Male fish guard eggs in winter months (January through March). They are the largest of the sculpin family. They feed on crustaceans, molluscs, small fish, and fish eggs.
great sculpin
Scientific name: Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus
Family: Cottidae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: 5 to 10 centimeters, up to 30 centimeters
Depth range: Subtidal to 200 meters
Description: Large head and body tapers towards the tail with large pectoral fins. A large spine protrudes from the operculum or cheek on either side of the head. Body coloration is dark brown or olive green and mottled in pattern with four saddle patches along the dorsal side. However, this fish may have different colors in different habitats, including white in sandy areas.
Habitat and behavior: Prefers sand and mud bottoms. When threatened, this fish may flare its mouth open to show operculum spines.
grunt sculpin
Scientific name: Rhamphocottus richardsonii
Family: Cottidae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: 5 to 8 centimeters
Depth range: Subtidal to 165 meters
Description: Short bodies with thick heads and a long snout. They appear as if they are half the size of a normal fish. Their bodies are cream colored or orange with brown and black stripes. The caudal fin and pectoral fins are bright orange.
Habitat and behavior: Grunt sculpins are found in areas with rocky bottoms and seek hiding in rock crevices, empty shells, or even bottles. They hop along the bottom with their pectoral fins instead of swimming.
longfin sculpin
Scientific name: Jordania zonope
Family: Cottidae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: 6 to 15 centimeters
Depth range: Up to 60 meters
Description: Has a slender green, orange, red, and blue body with red wavy bands along the body and white stripes on the red face. Can change body color at night or to blend in with surroundings to become darker green. Pectoral, dorsal, and the long caudal fin are yellow or orange in color.
Habitat and behavior: Stays in rocky reefs and caves and crevices, and in kelp. Usually it will be lying on rocks. Known to be a cleaner fish of lingcod.
scalyhead sculpin
Scientific name: Artedius harringtoni
Family: Cottidae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: 5 to 10 inches total length
Depth range: Intertidal to 15 meters
Description: Their main features are their large pectoral fins and their orange gills. Females are often seen with spots on their first dorsal fin and males have a two pair of bushy cirri above their eyes. The first dorsal fin is even in height. Presence of a second dorsal fin (adipose fin).
Habitat and behavior: They can be found along the entirety of the west coast. They are most commonly seen in intertidal areas near rocky pilings. They are demersal fish who prefer to live in sandy or rocky areas. The scalyhead sculpin is a forager and a predator and feeds on coon stripe shrimp of equal body size to themselves. Their coloration allows them to blend in well with crustose coralline algae and rocks. Very common throughout Edmonds Underwater Park.