California Fish Species

Pacific Staghorn Sculpin

• Scientific Name

  Leptocottus armatus
• Native

  Native Species
• Identification

  

  Pacific staghorn sculpin, at Corona del Mar, CA on 22 May 2007. Photo by Jonathan S. Klenk, PADI IDCS 179360.

  

  Pacific staghorn sculpin caught in Suisun Marsh, CA on 20 August 2008. Photo by Amber Manfree.

  

  Pacific staghorn sculpin (head) caught in Suisun Marsh, CA on 20 August 2008. Note the large, branched spine (the "stag horn" or "antler") on each operculum, raised in defense. Photo by Amber Manfree.

  • 12-15 cm SL at maturity, typically at age 1
  • Large flat head, small eyes, gill covers extend into antler-like projections with 3-4 spines, narrow caudal peduncle
  • Long jaw extends ahead of eyes and bears significant teeth
  • Fin rays: pelvic 4, 1^st dorsal 7 spines, 2^nd dorsal 17 rays, anal 17 rays
  • Smooth skin is grayish olive on back, yellow on sides, white on underside
  • 1^st dorsal fin has dark splotch on tail end, other fins have bars

   

• Life History

   

  The Pacific staghorn sculpin spend most of their lives in salt and brackish waters, though they are capable of adapting to fresh water as well as extremely saline waters. The larvae begin their lives in the estuary where they spread out onto a soft and sandy substrate. As they develop into juveniles, the young fish depart in many directions including into freshwater. Most fish found in freshwater or less salty areas are the young juveniles which feed on amphipods, invertebrates, small fish, and aquatic insect larvae. The older Pacific staghorn sculpins tend to be the farthest upstream, giving way for more young fish to push up from the marine or estuary environments. The marine dwelling fish may follow the tide and have a diet of crabs, shrimp, and fish. Most Pacific staghorn sculpins feed actively at night, though they may eat throughout the day. Throughout the west coast spawning occurs in saltwater or brackish water from October to April, though in California the Pacific staghorn sculpin spawn in January and February.

• Links to Other Research

  N / A
• Watershed

  • Alisal-Elkhorn Sloughs Watershed
  • Aliso-San Onofre Watershed
  • Big-Navarro-Garcia Watershed
  • Bodega Bay Watershed
  • Calleguas Watershed
  • Carmel Watershed
  • Central Coastal Watershed
  • Chetco Watershed
  • Cottonwood Tijuana Watershed
  • Coyote Watershed
  • Gualala-Salmon Watershed
  • Los Angeles Watershed
  • Lower Eel Watershed
  • Lower Klamath Watershed
  • Lower Sacramento Watershed
  • Mad-Redwood Watershed
  • Mattole Watershed
  • Newport Bay Watershed
  • Pajaro Watershed
  • Russian Watershed
  • Salinas Watershed
  • Salmon Watershed
  • San Antonio Watershed
  • San Diego Watershed
  • San Francisco Bay Watershed
  • San Francisco Coastal South Watershed
  • San Gabriel Watershed
  • San Joaquin Delta Watershed
  • San Lorenzo-Soquel Watershed
  • San Luis Rey-Escondido Watershed
  • San Pablo Bay Watershed
  • Santa Ana Watershed
  • Santa Barbara Coastal Watershed
  • Santa Clara Watershed
  • Santa Margarita Watershed
  • Santa Maria Watershed
  • Santa Monica Bay Watershed
  • Santa Ynez Watershed
  • Seal Beach Watershed
  • Smith Watershed
  • Suisun Bay Watershed
  • Tomales-Drake Bays Watershed
  • Ventura Watershed