Longspines sea-scorpion
D-Seebull; GB-Longspines sea-scorpion, longspined bullhead; DK-Langtornet Ulk; PL-Kur głowacz; EST-Meripühvel; RU-Бычок-буйвол; FIN-Piikkisimppu; S-Oxsimpa
Characters
1) Head strongly armour-plated with spines on upper head side.
2) Topmost spine on preoperculum reaches till behind operculum.
3) 1-2 small barbels on corner of mouth.
4) Pectoral fins fan-like enlarged, reaching till second dorsal fin.
●) Body colouration oliv-brown with 4 dark, wide stripes on the flanks and spottet fins; during spawning season abdomen of males yellow-orange, that from females blue-green.
Often 12 to 15 cm, max. up to 18 cm length.
Similar species
Bull-rout - belly with white spots; shorter spines on preoperculum; without barbels.
Fourhorned sculpin - 4 horns on head; more or less uniform colouration.
Biology
Bottom-living, prefers rocky habitats in down to 30 m (seldom down to 100 m) depth; occurs also in seaweed beds and tide pools. Reaching sexual maturity with 2 years; spawning season from February to May.Diet
Feeds on fish brood, brittlestars, snails and crustaceans.Importance
Of no commercial importance.Taurulus bubalis
