| Family: |
Ranicipitidae (Tadpole fishes) |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 100 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Northeast Atlantic: Trondheim on the Norwegian coast to the Bay of Biscay; also around the British Isles. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Head depressed. First dorsal fin poorly developed, with only three short rays. Color uniformly dark brown or bluish brown; the lips and the distal areas of all fins paler except for the pectorals. |
| Biology: |
Lives in coastal waters at shallow depths, generally from 10-20 m, more seldom from 75-100 m, on rocky bottom with seaweeds. Solitary and secretive, undertakes only limited local movements. Spawns from May to September at 50-70 m depth near the shore throughout its entire range. Feeds on sea stars, crustaceans, worms, mollusks and small fish (Ref. 1371). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 October 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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