Pholis ornata (Girard, 1854)
Saddleback gunnel
photo by Nichols, J.

Family:  Pholidae (Gunnels), subfamily: Pholinae
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: southern British Columbia to central California, USA. Authors giving range up to northwestern Pacific classify Pholis nea Peden & Hughes, 1984 as a synonym of Pholis ornata.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 74-79; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 35-38. Caudal rounded. Pelvic fins minute.
Biology:  Found in inshore areas, on mud bottoms among eelgrass and seaweed (Ref. 2850). Feeds on small mollusks and crustaceans (Ref. 2850). Both male and female guard egg mass (Ref. 2850).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.