Latin name

Stichaeus punctatus

Other name

Blennius punctatus, notogrammus rothrocki, stichaeus rothrocki. 

Identification

The Arctic shanny has a moderately elongated and laterally compressed body that is covered in small cycloid scales. Its head is devoid of scales, which is characteristic of the genus Stichaeus. It has teeth on its jaws, as well as on its vomer and palatine bones. The teeth on the upper jaw are arranged in two to four rows, while the teeth on the lower jaw form a single row. The jaws may be of equal length, or the lower jaw may protrude slightly beyond the upper jaw. The head has numerous sensory canals consisting of 60–73 pores. The lateral line, which does not reach the caudal fin, appears to be a continuation of the occipital sensory canal. Vertebrae 51–55 correspond to the trunk (14–16) and caudal (36–40) regions.

Features of fish fins

The anal fin has no posterior spines. The dorsal fin has 46 to 40 spines; the anal fin has one or two spines and 32 to 35 soft rays.

Fish colouring

The Arctic shanny has bright red flanks with vague brown spots, wavy brown lines on its gill cover, and wavy stripes between its eye and chin. Its reddish dorsal fin is marked with scattered gray spots and five spots that are yellow in the middle and black on the edges.

Distribution

This species of fish is found in the North Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the western North Atlantic. Its range extends as far south as British Columbia in the Pacific and Maine in the Atlantic, and as far east as West Greenland.

Habitat

This polar, marine, bottom-dwelling fish inhabits depths of 0 to 100 meters (0 to 328 feet) in sandy and rocky areas below the low tide mark.

Size

The maximum published total length is 8.7 inches (22 cm).

Behavior

They are more often found near the shore in rocky or sandy areas. These fish's biology and behavior have not been studied.

Food and feeding habits

Arctic shanny feed on crustaceans and worms.

Reproduction

This species likely spawns in the middle of winter. One 157-mm-long female had 2,475 eggs, each about 1 mm in diameter.

Fishing

This species is not commercially important.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.