Name: Prickleback
Scientific Name: Xiphister mucosus (Girard, 1858)
Family: Stichaeidae
Group: Bony fish
Class: Fish
Size: 11-25 cm.
This tiny fish is predominantly green and blends perfectly with its surroundings, which is mostly algae incrusted rocks. Larger individuals are herbivores. They have an amazing ability to breath air and can therefore live out of water, hidden under algae and other moisty environments. Animals from this species have no pelvic fins and their dorsal fins are quite small. Small bands behind the eyes allow for an easy identification of this particular species.
Photo by:
Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center (hmsc.oregonstate.edu)
Oceanário Location
Wolf-eels
