Grunt sculpin

Grunzgroppe ( Rhamphocottus richardsonii )

The Grunzgroppe ( Rhamphocottus richardsonii ) is a small fish from the group of relatives Gropp ( Cottales ). He lives in the northern Pacific, from Japan, Alaska, along the east coast of North America to the Bay of Santa Monica in Southern California. The fish are systematically isolated as the only species in the family Rhamphocottidae.

Features

The Grunzgroppe is only eight to nine inches long, with wide, spitzmäulige head accounts for one-third of the body length. The animals in the dorsal fin seven to eight hard and 12 to 13 soft rays in the anal fin has only six to seven soft rays, hard jets are missing. The caudal fin is rounded. The pectoral fins are supported by a hard - and three to four soft rays. The lower rays of the pectoral fins are free, are thickened and not connected by a membrane. Similar to the gurnards the Grunzgroppe uses them to run along the ocean floor. All fin rays are undivided. A swim bladder is absent. The lateral line is incomplete.

Way of life

The Grunzgroppe lives on rocky and sandy ground, in the south of its habitat preference of the fish deeper, cool water to depths of 200 meters. The animals hide themselves in empty mussel shells and discarded bottles and cans. They feed on zooplankton, fish larvae and small crustaceans.