Sculpin | |
---|---|
Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
Suborder: | Cottoidei |
Superfamily: |
Cottoidea Gill, 1889 [1] |
A sculpin is a type of fish that belongs to the superfamily Cottoidea in the order Scorpaeniformes. [2] As of 2006, this superfamily contains 7 families, 94 genera, and 387 species. [3]
Sculpins occur in many types of habitat, including ocean and freshwater zones. They live in rivers, submarine canyons, kelp forests, and shallow littoral habitat types, such as tidepools. [2]
Sculpins are benthic fish, dwelling on the bottoms of water bodies. Their pectoral fins are smooth on the upper edge and webbed with sharp rays along the lower edge, a feature that makes them specialized for gripping the substrate. This design helps the fish anchor in fast-flowing water. [2]