Family Stichaeidae

by. Nolvyhindarto,S.Si_Encartablog_Animals

Pricklebacks

Selected Characters: Body elongate, compressed; dorsal and
anal fins long; mouth small; anal fin origin at or before midbody; all
dorsal rays spinous in most species; pelvic fins thoracic and small
if present.

class="Normal_0020_0028Web_0029__Char" style=" text-decoration: none">This a family of elongate fishes found in the cool northern oceans,
with most species in the northern Pacific. Most species are less than
25 cm long, but a few may reach 50 cm. Pricklebacks are generally
found inshore and at the bottom. They can frequently be found in tidepools.
In most species, all the dorsal rays are strong, sharp spines (the source
of the name 'prickleback'), although some species have a few soft-rays
at the posterior end of the dorsal fin. Pricklebacks feed on a variety
of invertebrates, larvae and algae. There are about 65 species with
11 found here. This family is common in Puget Sound.

Species

Anoplarchus insignis Slender Cockscomb

Anoplarchus purpurescens High Cockscomb

Chirolophis decoratus Decorated Warbonnet

Chirolophis nugator Mosshead Warbonnet

Lumpenus maculatus Daubed Shanny

Lumpenus sagitta Snake Prickleback

Phytichthys chirus Ribbon Prickleback

Plectobranchus evides Bluebarred Prickleback

Poroclinus rothrocki Whitebarred Prickleback

Xiphister atropurpureus Black Prickleback

Xiphister mucosus Rock Prickleback

Retrieved from:” http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/ichthyology”