Latin name

Artediellus atlanticus

Other name

Hookhorn sculpin

Identification

The Atlantic hookear sculpin has an elongated body that is thicker in the front and tapers toward the tail. It has a moderately large mouth. Its gill membranes are connected under the throat and its lateral scales lack bony projections. The upper part of the anterior gill cover curves upward. The nasal spines are developed but are sometimes difficult to see under the skin. There is a pair of small, blunt tubercles on the occiput. The skin on the head and body is smooth without granulation; skin tubercles are only developed on the upper part of the eye and sometimes in the nasal area. The antennae are poorly developed. The occiput is flat and at the same level as the interorbital space.

Features of fish fins

These fish have dorsal fins supported by seven spines and 13 soft rays. The anal fin is supported by 11 soft rays.

Fish colouring

The body has distinct dark spots that often form several bright transverse stripes and spots in adult males, while in females, they are less pronounced and usually merge into irregularly shaped transverse constrictions. The fins of males have sharp light and dark stripes but lack the rows of small white spots characteristic of the typical Artediellus uncinatus. The first dorsal fin of males is dark, sometimes black, with several light, curved stripes or markings. The black spot on the posterior part of the fin is absent.

Distribution

It is widespread in the northwest Atlantic, from Greenland and Canada to Cape Cod in Massachusetts. In the northeast Atlantic, it is found in: Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Novaya Zemlya in Russia (but not the White Sea), the southern part of the Barents Sea, the Scandinavian coast to Skagerrak, and the Orkney Islands in Scotland and Ireland.

Habitat

This marine benthic species prefers a temperate climate ranging from -2°C to 4°C. These fish live at depths ranging from 35 to 900 meters.

Size

The maximum published length for males is 15 cm (5.9 in), though 10.5 cm is more typical. Females reach a maximum length of 10.6 cm.

Behavior

Benthic. They live on the sandy or muddy ocean floor.

Food and feeding habits

They feed on benthic invertebrates, such as polychaetes and small mollusks, and rarely prey on small crustaceans.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in late summer when water temperatures range from 28.9 to 39.2 °F (1.7 to 4 °C). Mature ovarian eggs are approximately 4 mm in diameter, with an average of 88 eggs per clutch. It takes more than 200 days for the eggs to hatch. The resulting larvae are well developed and resemble the adults.

Fishing

This species is not commercially important.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.