# Scalyhead Sculpin (*artedius harringtoni*) The Scalyhead Sculpin is a small fish with a unique, bumpy head that helps it blend in with the rocky ocean floor. These little creatures love to hide in crevices and are often seen darting around in their underwater homes! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Cold coastal waters and rocky ocean floors - **Also known as:** Bumpy Sculpin, Ocean Scuplin ![Scalyhead Sculpin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Scalyhead_Sculpin_73mm_%285%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/FishAtlas/speciespage.htm, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scalyhead_Sculpin_73mm_%285%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Scalyhead Sculpin has a broad head covered in spiny plates, giving it a bumpy appearance. Its body is mottled brown, green, and red, perfect for blending into rocky seafloors. Large pectoral fins resemble fans, aiding in bottom movement. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Scorpaeniformes - **Family:** Cottidae - **Genus:** Artedius ## Interesting facts - Wow! Many sculpins have 'whiskers' called cirri on their heads, helping them feel around! - Wow! Their eyes are on top of their heads, perfect for spotting prey from below! - Wow! They can gulp air and survive briefly out of water during low tide! - Wow! They guard their sticky eggs until they hatch, a very protective parent move! ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** Scalyhead Sculpin can change colors and patterns to perfectly match rocky or algal surroundings, helping them hide from predators and ambush prey. - **Seafloor Stroller:** Scalyhead Sculpin has large, fan-like pectoral fins that help them 'walk' and perch on the seafloor, instead of constantly swimming. - **Spiky Shield:** Scalyhead Sculpin has a head covered in sharp, bony spines that provide excellent protection, making them tricky for predators to swallow. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-14 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Swim Speed:** 2 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 150 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding Tiny predators, they feast on small crustaceans and other invertebrates found on the seafloor. - **Primary Foods:** amphipods, copepods, polychaete worms, isopods, fish eggs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Ocean Amphipod (*Gammarus oceanicus*) — A favorite crunchy meal found among the rocks. - **Hunts:** Clam Worm (*Nereis vexillosa*) — Snaps up these wriggling worms from crevices. - **Eaten by:** [Lingcod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lingcod) (*Ophiodon elongatus*) — A larger, predatory fish that hunts sculpins. - **Eaten by:** [Great Blue Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-blue-heron) (*Ardea herodias*) — Wades in shallow water to snatch up these fish. ## Traits - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Scalyhead Sculpin? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Scalyhead Sculpin? 10-14 cm ### How much does Scalyhead Sculpin weigh? 0.05-0.1 kg ### How long does Scalyhead Sculpin live? 3-5 years ### What does Scalyhead Sculpin eat? Tiny predators, they feast on small crustaceans and other invertebrates found on the seafloor. ### How fast can Scalyhead Sculpin swim? 2 km/h ### Where is Scalyhead Sculpin usually found? Cold coastal waters and rocky ocean floors ### How does Scalyhead Sculpin hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Porteau Cove Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/porteau-cove-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Scalyhead Sculpin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scalyhead-sculpin)