Pholis nebulosa (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845)
Tidepool gunnel

Family:  Pholidae (Gunnels), subfamily: Pholinae
Max. size:  30 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 200 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Japan and Korea (Ref. 37630).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 76-83; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 35-42; Vertebrae: 83-90
Biology:  Found in tide pools or the intertidal zone to 20 m depth, on sandy-mud bottoms and among rocks of rocky reefs (Ref. 43239); also in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds (Ref. 559). Sometimes to 200 m depth (Ref. 43239). Feeds on gammarids. Juveniles associate with drifting seaweed (Ref. 12114, 12115). Although rarely used for commercial food, this species is highly valued as fried fish in the spring months in Tokyo and neighboring areas (Ref. 7031).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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