Great Sculpin

Caudal fin slightly rounded (Ref. 6885). Color deep olive on dorsal surface with 4 dark saddles across back; ventral surface pale; brown bars running downward on relaxed unpaired and paired pectoral fins (Ref. 6885).

Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.Characteristic elements in amphidromy are: reproduction in fresh water, passage to sea by newly hatched larvae, a period of feeding and growing at sea usually a few months long, return to fresh water of well-grown juveniles, a further period of feeding and growing in fresh water, followed by reproduction there (Ref. 82692).

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 16; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13

Occurs in the intertidal area and to 244 m depth, on sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 2850). Feeds on small fishes (Ref. 4925). Often caught near shore (Ref. 2850).

fisheries: commercial

Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus, the great sculpin, s a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the North Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands, and extends from Hokkaido and the Kamchatka Peninsula to the Puget Sound, Washington. It is the largest member of the genus Myoxocephalus and the second most common in the Bering Sea. It can grow to a size of 80 cm and 9 kg weight.

Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus is a predatory fish. It has acellular bones.