| Enophrys bison | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Cottidae |
| Genus: | Enophrys |
| Species: | E. bison |
| Binomial name | |
| Enophrys bison (Girard, 1854) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Enophrys bison, the buffalo sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The buffalo sculpin was first formally described as Aspicottus bison in 1854 by the French zoologist Charles Frédéric Girard with its type locality given as San Francisco. [1] The specific name bison is presumed to refer to the long preopercular spines, similar to the horns of an American bison (Bison bison). [2]
The buffalo sculpin has a dorsal fins which are supported by between 7 and 9 spines and between 10 and 13 soft rays while the anal fin has 8 or 9 soft rays. The pelvic fins are small and the caudal fin is rounded. This species reaches a maximum published total length of 37 cm (15 in). [3] This species is well-camouflaged and has a mottled pattern, which varies from pink and green to brown in colour, and there are dark saddle patches along the back. There is a long, straight preopercular spine projecting from each cheek. The lateral line is made up of prominent raised plates. The snout is short and blunt. [4]
This fish species occurs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to Monterey Bay, California, USA. They are typically found in rocky or sandy reef environments, where they can camouflage themselves in rocks and seaweed. These fish commonly inhabit a depths down to 20 m (66 ft), though the deepest recorded depth is at 220 m (720 ft). [5]
Buffalo Sculpin are predators and prey on a variety of animals including young fishes, mussels, isopods, amphipods, and crabs. Algae are frequently recorded among its gut contents, but it is not clear that this is consumed deliberately or by accident when the fish grabs prey. It is an oviparous fish in which there is paternal care. They spawn in the late winter through to early spring, the female laying her eggs on rocks or on artificial structures in the lower part of the intertidal zone down as far as 12 m (39 ft) in depth. The eggs are laid in batches of 19,000 – 32,000 in exposed places, subject to the current. A number of females frequently spawn with a single male which then guards the eggs and fans them with his pectoral fins. The larvae emerge after 5 or 6 weeks. The spinynose sculpin (Asemichthys taylori) lays its eggs on the egg masses of this species, thought to be a strategy to take advantage of the buffalo sculpin's egg guarding behaviour. [6]
The spoonhead sculpin is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is widespread in northeastern North America.
The Pacific staghorn sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Lepidocottus.
The Norway bullhead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.
The roughback sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The roughback sculpin is the only known member of the genus Chitonotus.
Enophrys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean.
The lavender sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The spineless sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the Pacific Ocean where it is endemic to the waters around the Aleutian Islands, Alaska.
Myoxocephalus jaok, the plain sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the northern Pacific Ocean and adjacent Arctic Ocean.
Myoxocephalus scorpioides, the Arctic sculpin or northern sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This fish is found in the Arctic Ocean.
Artedius corallinus, the coralline sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern North Pacific along the coasts of the western United States and Baja California.
The woolly sculpin is a species of ray-finned marine fish belonging to the family Cottidae, or the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where it occurs along the coastline of California south to Baja California.
The rosy sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It inhabits the coastal northeastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from California (US) to Baja California.
The bald sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Artediellus atlanticus, the Atlantic hookear sculpin or hookhorn sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae. This species is found along the coasts of Northern Atlantic Ocean.
Icelinus borealis, or the northern sculpin or comb sculpin, is a species of fish in the family Cottidae. It can be found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean along the western coast of North America.
The hamecon is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae. This species is found along the coasts of northeastern Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean.
Enophrys diceraus, the antlered sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species occurs in the northern Pacific Ocean.
Gymnocanthus pistilliger, the threaded sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species occurs in the northern Pacific Ocean.
The Arctic staghorn sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This sculpin is found in the Arctic Ocean and the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Clinocottus embryum, the calico sculpin or mossy sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.