Species List

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Sculpins: The Cottidae Family

The Cottidae is a large family, consisting of cold-water bottom dwellers.  They are tidepool fish by and large, though a few can be found in deeper water.  Most species of sculpin stay relatively small, although the great sculpin pictured below can grow to 2 1/2 feet.  Sculpins are often difficult to distinguish because they can change color rapidly to blend in with their surroundings.                    (Humann, 1996)

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Great sculpinGreat sculpin

This individual was found in a permanent rocky tidepool in the Olympic National Forest north of Hole in the Wall, outer coast.  Size was approximately 4 inches excluding the tail.  Humann (1996) reports that they are occasional to uncommon in Northern Washington and the Puget Sound.

SnailfishSnailfish

These fish were found at Cattle Point, San Juan Island in the high intertidal.  They were in permanent shallow rocky pools with considerable vegetation.  Each specimen was no more than 1 inch long.  Color varied from yellow, to red, to brown from moment to moment.  Color change was too slow to watch directly, but was observable if one looked away for a few seconds and then looked at the fish again. 

This fish was photographed at the Seattle Aquarium. 

Rounded Rectangle: Class Osteichthyes

This fish was found under a rock in the high intertidal at Cattle Point, San Juan Island.  To identify, look for a white or pale band running between and under the eyes.  Humann (1996) remarks that they are rarely observed but occasional in abundance from southern Alaska to central California.  They grow to between 2 and 4.5 inches, and max out at 6.5 inches7.  

This fish was found under a rock in the high intertidal at Cattle Point, San Juan Island.  This species reaches  1 foot in length8,9.  Pricklebacks eat small crabs, amphipods, worms and algae, and are preyed upon by gopher snakes9.    

Snailfish:  The Cyclopteridae Family

(Formerly Liparididae)7

Snailfish have smooth, scaleless skin7 that is notably loose8.  They have a remarkable ability to change colors, as evidenced by the photo below.   Tidepool snailfish attain a length of up to 5 inches8.  The belly of the fish has modified pectoral fins that create a sucker disc7, which helps the fish attach to rocks8.

Rockfish: The Scorpaenidae Family

Rockfish are members of the scorpionfish family8 and are most common from Puget Sound to southern California9.  The brown rockfish reaches up to 22 inches8,9 and is mature by 15 inches9.  These fish prefer hard bottoms and sandy areas near stationary objects, where they frequently lie motionless on the bottom8.

Clingfish: The Gobiesocidae Family

Clingfish belong to a family of about 100 species, and are characterized by a strong sucker disc on the abdomen formed from the pectoral fins and surrounding tissue10..  The Northern Clingfish is the only one to grow larger than 3.5 inches7.  In the pictures below, the sucker disc was engaged, and was strong enough to attach securely to the author’s finger.

Pricklebacks: The Stichaeidae Family

Pricklebacks live primarily in the North Pacific7.  They are distinguished from similar gunnels by the hard rays in the dorsal fin;  gunnels have soft rays in the dorsal7.  Black pricklebacks range from Alaska to Baja California8, and are common to central California9.  The black prickleback is identified by the white bar at the base of the caudal fin and black patches, edged with white, that run backwards from the eye.

Tidepool Snailfish

Liparis florae

Great Sculpin

Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus

Brown Rockfish, Bolinas8, 9

Sebastes auriculatus

Northern Clingfish

Gobiesox maeandricus

Black prickleback

Xiphister atropurpureus