Spiny benthic fish

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Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

The three sculpin species you can see at the Biodôme are part of a group of about ten benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish species in Quebec, known for their large, spiny heads. They are commonly found in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

These two fish share a stocky shape, a large head, a habit of lying motionless on the seafloor, and an impressive ability to blend in. Their bodies are built for a discreet lifestyle: a low profile, broad stabilizing pectoral fins, and mottled colours that mimic the surrounding substrate.

Despite these similarities, each species has its own distinguishing features linked to its habitat, which ranges from shallow coastal waters to deep rocky bottoms:

Shorthorn sculpin: large, fan-shaped pectoral fins, with several spines around the head
Longhorn sculpin: a long series of dorsal spines, with a more elongated body
Sea raven: fleshy appendages, bumps, and bony ridges on the head

Reproduction

These three benthic species lay their eggs on the seafloor, often in rocky crevices. Spawning takes place in late November or early December.

Their reproductive cycle includes a form of parental care: the male guards the eggs and fans them with his fins to keep them well oxygenated.

Despite their similarities, their breeding cycles differ depending on the depths they occupy and the type of substrate they prefer.

Shorthorn sculpin: the female lays between 4,000 and 60,000 eggs on rocky bottoms at depths of 6 to 11 metres. Hatching occurs about three months later, and the larvae remain close to the seafloor.
Longhorn sculpin: following a strategy common to Myoxocephalus, the female lays eggs in slightly deeper areas, often at the base of sea sponges.
Sea raven: the female lays about 15,000 eggs on the seafloor. She clusters them in groups of 150 to 500 eggs at depths of 20 to 60 metres.

Diet

Spiny benthic fish are ambush predators. They lie motionless on the seafloor, perfectly camouflaged, then quickly thrust their heads forward and open their mouths. This creates suction, allowing them to draw in their prey. While their hunting technique is similar, their diets differ, because each species keeps to its own depth range on the seafloor and encounters prey typical of its habitat.

Shorthorn sculpin: feeds mostly on crabs, shrimp, and sea urchins, but also on herring, small cod, and various marine worms. The larvae feed on plankton.
Longhorn sculpin: eats invertebrates and small bottom-dwelling fish, more often associated with sandy or rocky, open bottoms.
Sea raven: an opportunistic, voracious carnivore, it patrols deep rocky bottoms, where it has access to a range of invertebrates and small fish that are less common in shallow coastal waters.

Predators

Well camouflaged and protected by bony structures, these spiny benthic fish face relatively little predation once they reach adulthood.

Their motionless posture and mottled colouring make them hard for most bottom-dwelling predators to spot.

Juveniles and eggs, however, remain vulnerable, especially in species that reproduce in shallow coastal areas. For example, murres can catch young sculpins when they dive near the bottom, and many opportunistic predatory fish regularly feed on juveniles.

This includes cod, flounders, and even older sculpins, which search along the seafloor for small, easy-to-catch prey.

Habitat

These spiny fish live in the cold waters of the Northwest Atlantic. They are found along the seafloor at a range of depths, from shallow, plant-filled coastal areas to the colder, deeper rocky slopes of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They use the seafloor’s natural features to hide and blend in. Because they tend to live at different depths and in different habitats, the two species compete less with one another.

Shorthorn sculpin: more common in shallow coastal waters, at depths of less than 60 metres.
Longhorn sculpin: found on rocky or sandy bottoms at intermediate depths (up to 100 metres), as well as in more exposed, open areas.
Sea raven: lives in cold, deep waters, generally at depths of 30 to 100 metres, and sometimes as deep as 300 metres. It is found almost always on rocky bottoms, and its range spans the entire Atlantic coast.

Ecology, behaviour

These three bottom-dwelling fish share an ecology shaped by stealth, camouflage, and stability. They are mostly sedentary, living within small areas where they rest for long periods, then make short movements to feed.

As ambush predators, sculpins and sea ravens help regulate populations of small fish, crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. In doing so, they directly influence the structure and dynamics of benthic communities.

French name

Chaboisseau à épines courtes, chaboisseau à 18 épines, hémitriptère de l’Atlantique

Scientific name

Myoxocephalus scorpius, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus, Hemitripterus americanus

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Osteichthyes (bony fish)

Order

Scorpaeniformes

Family

Cottidae et Hemitripterianae

Size

Shorthorn sculpin: about 50 cm Longhorn sculpin: about 45 cm Sea raven: up to 75 cm

Weight

Shorthorn sculpin: 1.26 kg Longhorn sculpin: 1 kg Sea raven: 3 kg

Life span

10 to 15 years

Status

Common species

At the Biodôme

A sea raven, shorthorn sculpins and longhorn sculpins can be seen in the large basin of the Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystem.

You will need to look closely to spot them, since their shape, colour, and texture blend perfectly with the bottom of the pool. You may catch a glimpse of them on the rocks in the centre, or at the base of the rocky walls.

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