Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Zoarcoidei (Eelpouts and pricklebacks) >
Lumpenidae (Eel pricklebacks)
Etymology: Lumpenus: Latin, lumpus, an uncouthlooking spiny-finned fish of a leaden-blue colour (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Walbaum.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; non-migratory (Ref. 88171); depth range 30 - 373 m (Ref. 58426), usually 40 - 100 m (Ref. 51666). Temperate; 8°C - 14°C (Ref. 89228); 80°N - 41°N, 71°W - 55°E
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).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 20.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35388)
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).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
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).
Wheeler, A., 1992. A list of the common and scientific names of fishes of the British Isles. J. Fish Biol. 41(suppl.A):1-37. (Ref. 5204)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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