Spoonhead sculpin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spoonhead sculpin |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cottus
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| Species: |
ricei
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| Synonyms | |
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Cottus onychus |
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The spoonhead sculpin (Cottus ricei) is a small freshwater fish. It lives in rivers and lakes across North America. This fish belongs to the Cottidae family, also known as sculpins. It's not as common as its relative, the mottled sculpin.
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About the Spoonhead Sculpin
Spoonhead sculpins are unique because they don't have scales. Instead, their bodies are covered in tiny, curved spines. They have a flat, triangle-shaped head. Their body is round like a cylinder and gets narrower towards the tail.
These fish have special spines near their gills called preopercular spines. Their fins are long and rounded. Spoonhead sculpins can be greenish-brown to light yellow. Their bellies are white, and their bodies often have speckles.
Most spoonhead sculpins are about 1.5 to 2.4 inches long. The biggest one ever found was 5.3 inches! Their eyes are on top of their head. They have a very large mouth that opens downwards. This helps them eat food from the bottom of rivers and lakes.
They also have a complete lateral line. This is a special sensory organ that runs along their side. It helps them feel movements and vibrations in the water. Spoonhead sculpins have four soft rays in their pelvic fins. They also have 14 to 16 rays in their pectoral fins. Unlike some fish, they do not have teeth on the roof of their mouth.
Spoonhead sculpins usually live for about six years. They do not have a swim bladder. This is a gas-filled organ that helps most fish float. Because they lack one, spoonhead sculpins can rest easily on the bottom. They are also good at hearing low-pitched sounds.
Where Spoonhead Sculpins Live
You can find spoonhead sculpins in many places across Canada. They live from southern Quebec all the way to the Mackenzie River. This river is in the Northwest and Yukon Territories. They also live in British Columbia.
In the United States, they are found in northern Ohio and Montana. They also live in many of the Great Lakes, like Lake Superior and Lake Erie. However, their numbers are decreasing in Lake Erie. This is due to a lot of pollution there. In Montana, they are native to the St. Mary and Waterton river areas. These areas are part of Glacier National Park.
These fish usually prefer fast-moving rivers. They also like deep lakes.
Spoonhead Sculpin Habitat
Spoonhead sculpins live in places with fast-flowing water. They also like deep parts of lakes. They prefer habitats with rocks like bedrock, boulders, and cobble. They also like areas with logs. These features provide good places for them to hide. They hide from predators like trout and other large lake fish.
What Spoonhead Sculpins Eat
Scientists are still learning a lot about what spoonhead sculpins eat. They likely feed on small aquatic insects. This includes creatures like stoneflies. They might also eat tiny organisms called plankton.
Spoonhead sculpins themselves are food for larger fish. These predators include northern pike, lake trout, and burbot. If they live in shallow water, they can also be eaten by mammals and birds.
Spoonhead Sculpin Reproduction
Spoonhead sculpins are ready to have babies when they are two years old. At this age, they are usually about 7 to 8 centimeters long. They lay their eggs in the fall season.
During this time, male sculpins find and protect special areas. They will chase away other males from their chosen spot. This spot includes a place for a nest. Males usually pick nest sites under rocks.
Then, the male tries to attract a female. He shows her how good his territory is. If she likes it, the female will lay her eggs. She attaches them to the underside of the rocks in the nest. After the male fertilizes the eggs, he drives the female away.
Sometimes, a male sculpin might mate with more than one female. This often depends on how big the male is. It also depends on how many eggs he can guard at one time. The male will stay and guard the nest until the eggs hatch. This usually takes about 21 days after the eggs are fertilized. A female can lay anywhere from 280 to 1200 eggs. The number of eggs also depends on the female's size.
