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Taurulus bubalis (Euphrasen, 1786) Longspined bullhead |
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photo by
Salesjö, A. |
| Family: | Cottidae (Sculpins) | |||
| Max. size: | 17.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); 25 cm SL (female) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 200 m, non-migratory | |||
| Distribution: | Eastern Atlantic: Iceland, the Shetlands, from Murmansk southward to Portugal, also Baltic Sea northward to Gulf of Finland and northern Mediterranean coasts eastward to Gulf of Genoa. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Longest spine on the front gill cover reaches backwards to a point below the foremost part of the dorsal fin. Gill membranes joined to the throat, no bony knobs above or under the rough lateral line (Ref. 35388). | |||
| Biology: | A resident intertidal species with homing behavior (Ref. 32612). Inhabits tide pools and inshore waters on rocky bottoms or among algae at 0-30 m. Can leave tide pools when conditions become inhospitable (Ref. 31184). Feeds on mysids, amphipods (gammarids), decapods, polychaetes, mollusks, ophiuroids and fishes. Breathes air when out of water (Ref. 31184). Information on maximum length for male taken from Ref. 4698. | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 October 2013 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||