| Family: |
Lumpenidae (Eel pricklebacks) |
| Max. size: |
50 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 30 - 373 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
North Atlantic: Spitsbergen southward to Scandinavian coasts, North Sea, southern part of the Baltic, the Faroes, Iceland and south-eastern coasts of Greenland. Elsewhere, western coasts of Greenland; also, Labrador and Newfoundland to Massachusetts Bay (subspecies Lumpenus lumpretaeformis serpentinus Storer, Ref. 51666). |
| Diagnosis: |
Elongated, eel-like fish with a pointed caudal fin. A single dorsal fin extends almost throughout the entire length of the body. The anal fin covers about two-thirds of the total length. Pale brown dorsally, becoming bluish on the sides, and greenish-yellow ventrally. There are numerous irregular brown patches on the body (Ref. 35388). |
| Biology: |
A benthic species (Ref. 58426), living in Y-shaped tubes in the mud in 50-200 m depth (Ref. 35388). The burrows are believed to be used for parental care of the eggs (Ref. 80819) . Feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, brittle stars and worms (Ref. 5204). Matures at 3 years with about 20 cm length. Spawning takes place in December - January, 1,000 eggs are laid on the sea floor, in deep water (Ref. 35388). Isolated population in the Baltic Sea is probably a relict from the last ice age (Ref. 35388) that reached the Baltic Sea during the early saltwater stage of the sea (Ref. 82152; 82153). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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