Bull-rout

D-Seeskorpion; GB-Bull-rout, Shorthorn sculpin; DK-Ulk; PL-Kur diabeł; LT-Builis; LV-Ziemeļu buļļzivs; EST-Nolgus; RU-Европейский керчак; FIN-Isosimppu; S-Rötsimpa

Characters

1) Head strongly armour-plated with spines on upper head side.
2) Two spines on preoperculum, not reaching till edge of operculum.
3) Pectoral fins fan-like enlarged, reaching till second dorsal fin.
●) Dark spots on head and back; flanks yellowish and whitish spotted; in mating season abdomen of male red with big white spots.
Usually 12 to 20 cm, up to 30 cm in the Baltic Sea, maximum 60 cm length in the Arctic.

Similar species

Longspines sea-scorpion - thorn of preoperculum larger, reaching behind operculum; 1 to 2 small barbels at corner of mouth.

Fourhorned sculpin - 4 horns on head; uniform colouration.

Biology

Bottom-living, prefers rocky and mixed grounds; sometimes in-between seaweed; also present in lower-salt waters. Reaches sexual maturity with 2 years; internal fertilisation; fish fry is deposited in clusters.

Diet

Feeds on fish fry, fish larvae and crustaceans.

Importance

Is not fished on a commercial basis; used as fish bait; food fish in Greenland.