SEA SCORPIONS
By Bryant Alexander, Period 2
THE STRUGGLE
- Spends most of time in tide pools so salinity changes a lot
- Body is not well adapted for long exposure to air
- Also part of low tide zone has to fight for space and usually is sessile on the ground or substrate
- Does not adapt well to sudden changes in temperature
Millers Thumb
- Biggest of all Sculpin
- Grow to 60 cm long (2 feet)
- AKA Bullhead
Sea Raven
- Used for lobster bait
- Atlantic Coast of North America, southward to Chesapeake Bay
- AKA Sea Scorpion
Longhorn Sculpin
- Color Varies
- 18 max most 10- 14 in long
Adapted Well
- Flat body,
- large fins help it stay connected to substrate
- No swim bladder so it can stay on substrate.
MOVEMENT AND EATING
- They are nocturnal feeders and make effective use of their cryptic coloration when they stalk or ambush prey.
- Young banded sculpins consume aquatic insect immatures, including caddisflies, mayflies
- Mature sculpin eat mostly crayfish.
- Do not move much only during night
PREDATORS
- Birds, Snakes, and other Sculpin
- Ex. belted kingfishers and great blue herons
- Northern Water Snakes
- Adult Sculpin eat younger sculpin for comepetition
CITATIONS
- Clark, J. 2006. "Cottus carolinae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 17, 2014 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cottus_carolinae/