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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Stichaeidae (Pricklebacks) > Xiphisterinae
Etymology: Xiphister: Greek, xiphos = armed with sword (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 18 m (Ref. 2850). Subtropical, preferred ?; 59°N - 34°N, 156°W - 118°W

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Eastern Pacific: Port San Juan, southeastern Alaska to Santa Cruz Island, southern California, USA.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 58.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); max. reported age: 11 years (Ref. 56049)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 71 - 77; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 46 - 50. Caudal small and rounded, directed upward; pectorals as minute flaps (Ref. 6885). Greenish black with several dusky white bars on posterior part of body, 2 dark bands diverging back from each eye, each band double with a paler center (Ref. 6885).

Found in rocky areas, from intertidal to 18 m depth, mostly on exposed coast (Ref. 2850). May remain out of water under rocks or seaweed (Ref. 31184). Feed mainly on algae (Ref. 6885). Oviparous, eggs are laid in several clumps or masses which are guarded by the male (Ref. 58332). Breathe air (Ref. 31184) and can stay out of water for 17-23 hours if kept moist (Ref. 51276).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Female lays eggs in a cluster under a rock, male guards the egg mass by wrapping his body around it (Ref. 2850)

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Not Evaluated

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Internet sources

Xiphister mucosus (Girard, 1858)