Scalyhead Sculpin ID trick!

nwscubamom · Post by **nwscubamom** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:35 pm

Today, while poring through Hart's Pacific Fishes of Canada, I got sidetracked in the Pesky Sculpin section of the book, and found myself looking at our common Scalyhead Sculpin for some nice ID clues. I found three pretty good clues, one of which I never had noticed before!

1. Big Fat Juicy Lips (my words, not Hart's, so don't blame him)
2. Cirri - either threadlike or chunky (and don't always seem to be present)
3. A nice white spot at the base of the tail fin!

EH?? I never knew that! So I went back through all my photos of Scalyheads, and sure enough, plain as day, is a nice white spot! Here's a few pics to show you what I mean.

Check it out on YOUR pics!

Pesky Sculpin Fish ID just got easier....

- Janna

Jan K · Post by **Jan K** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:02 pm

Thanks Janna, I need all the help I can get

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:01 pm

VERY nice Janna! Thanks for the tip! I'll check my pics!

-Tom

Zen Diver · Post by **Zen Diver** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:37 am

Great hint, thanks Janna!

-Valerie

thelawgoddess · Post by **thelawgoddess** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:55 pm

yeah; janna - thanks for the helpful hint!

jackieg · Post by **jackieg** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:34 pm

So does this mean that I absolutely have to stop diving with my white waterproof paint marker? Darn....it was so much fun to try and get the little fishies to hold still for "branding"...sigh

Great tip, Janna - thanks!

Jackie

thelawgoddess · Post by **thelawgoddess** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:45 pm

i was having trouble ID'ing a sculpin i saw this weekend ... until i remembered this thread. appears to be a scalyhead! :-)

<a href="" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/103 ... 22319c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Scalyhead Sculpin (Artedius harringtoni)"></a>

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:50 pm

Grateful Diver may have photographed one last weekend off Lopez Is.!