Cottidae

noun

Distribution: Northern Hemisphere and near New Zealand. Body often appears naked, commonly bearing scales or prickles; eye usually large, located high on the head. Lateral line one. One spine on pelvic fin and 2-5 soft rays. Anal fin lacking spines. No swim bladder in adults. Reaches about 78 cm maximum length in Scorpaenichthys marmoratus. Marine sculpins = ISSCAAP 39; freshwater sculpins = ISSCAAP 13.

The family Cottidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Scorpaeniformes. It contains 70 genera and 300 species. It may be found in Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater environments and is primarily Peripheral/diadromous. Some members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are guarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be sluggish. Members of this family have been dated back to the Oligocene epoch of the Tertiary period. This family may be found from 80° n to 30° s and 180° w to 180° e. Etymology of this family name: Greek, kottos = name of a fish. 1854