| Hemilepidotus spinosus Ayres, 1854 Brown Irish lord | 
|   | 
| photo by 
			Bauder, C. | 
| Family: | Cottidae (Sculpins) | |||
| Max. size: | 29 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 780 m | |||
| Distribution: | Eastern Pacific: Puffin Bay, southeastern Alaska to Santa Barbara Island, southern California, USA. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 35-35. Dorsal deeply notched between third and fourth spine, and between spinous and rayed portions; caudal rounded (Ref. 6885). Color brown, often tinged with red on dorsal surface, mottled and barred with 4 dark saddles over dorsal surface (Ref. 6885). | |||
| Biology: | Occurs in intertidal areas and down to at least 130 or 780 m depth (Ref. 5515). Usually found in subtidal areas of exposed coasts (Ref. 2850). Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 6885). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||