Norway bullhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Norway bullhead |
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| Norway bullhead Bornholm | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Cottidae |
| Subfamily: | Cottinae |
| Genus: | Micrenophrys Andriashev, 1954 |
| Species: |
M. lilljeborgii
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| Binomial name | |
| Micrenophrys lilljeborgii (Collett, 1875)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Norway bullhead (Micrenophrys lilljeborgii) is a small, interesting fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of ray-finned fish, which means its fins are supported by bony rays. This fish belongs to a group called Cottidae, also known as sculpins. You can find the Norway bullhead in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
About Its Name
Scientists give every living thing a special two-part name. This helps everyone around the world know exactly which animal they are talking about.
How the Norway Bullhead Got Its Name
The Norway bullhead was first officially described in 1875. A Norwegian scientist named Robert Collett gave it the name Cottus lilljeborgii. He found this fish in a place called Hardangerfjord in Norway.
Later, in 1954, a Soviet scientist named Anatoly Andriyashev gave it a new group name, Micrenophrys. Today, Micrenophrys is seen as its own unique group.
Meaning of Micrenophrys lilljeborgii
The first part of its scientific name, Micrenophrys, comes from two words. Miccro means "small," and it's combined with Enophrys, which is the name of a similar fish group. So, it means "small Enophrys."
The second part, lilljeborgii, likely honors a Swedish scientist named Wilhelm Lilljeborg. Robert Collett often mentioned Lilljeborg in his work.
What Does the Norway Bullhead Look Like?
The Norway bullhead is a small fish. The longest one ever measured was about 7.4 centimeters (about 3 inches) long.
Body Features
- It has a line of sharp bumps, like tiny prickles, along the base of its two dorsal fins (the fins on its back). This line is a bit uneven.
- Its head doesn't have many small, bony bumps. Any bumps behind its eyes are either very tiny or not there at all.
- The upper spine on its preoperculum (a bone near its gill cover) is long and strong.
- It has a small barbel (a whisker-like growth) on its upper jaw, near the corner of its mouth.
Fins and Color
- Its dorsal fins have 8 or 9 strong spines and 11 or 12 soft rays.
- The anal fin (on its underside) has between 6 and 9 soft rays.
- The fish is usually reddish-olive in color. It has four dark, saddle-like bands across its back and upper sides.
- Its head is yellowish with one dark band.
- The spiny dorsal fin has a clear black spot.
- When males are ready to breed, they get a red band across their head and red blotches on their sides.
Where Do Norway Bullheads Live?
The Norway bullhead lives in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Locations
You can find this fish around:
- Iceland
- The Faroe Islands
- Scotland
- The west and north coasts of Ireland
- The southwestern coasts of Scandinavia
There have been reports of this fish further south, like in the southern North Sea and near Brittany in France. However, these sightings haven't been officially confirmed yet.
Habitat
This fish lives on the seabed. It prefers areas with gravel or shells, and also places with lots of algae. It can live in water from the surface down to about 100 meters (330 feet) deep. It can even handle very cold water, below 0°C (32°F)!
Life and Habits
The Norway bullhead is an interesting creature with specific ways of living and reproducing.
What They Eat
Norway bullheads are hunters. They mostly eat small crustaceans, which are like tiny ocean bugs. These include:
They also eat very small fish.
Reproduction
Norway bullheads spawn (lay eggs) in the early spring. They lay their eggs in clumps on the seabed. These eggs stay on the bottom until they hatch. Once they hatch, the baby fish, called larvae, float freely in the water.
 | Mary Eliza Mahoney |
 | Susie King Taylor |
 | Ida Gray |
 | Eliza Ann Grier |
