Myoxocephalus scorpius

Myoxocephalus scorpius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Cottidae
Genus:	Myoxocephalus
Species:	M. scorpius
Binomial name
Myoxocephalus scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Myoxocephalus scorpius, known variously as the shorthorn sculpin, short-spined sea scorpion, bull-rout and the father-lasher, is a relatively small demersal fish of the Northern Atlantic and adjacent subarctic coasts. Adult fishes are commonly 15-30 cm in length, with a squat appearance. The fish has a large spiny head and a tapering body. It is a mottled grey-brown in colour but can be darker, including black as base coloring. It has a large mouth and spiny gill covers.^[1]

Shorthorn sculpin is found among seaweed and stones on rocky bottoms with mud or sand.

Other names

The English vernacular names of this fish include shorthorn sculpin (USA, Canada, Alaska), short-spined sea scorpion (UK, Ireland), bull-rout (UK), bullhead (UK), father-lasher (Isle of Man), goat sculpin, guffy, horny whore, pig-fish, scolping, scopin, scopy, scully, sculpin, granny fish, scummy and scumpy (all Newfoundland).^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Myoxocephalus scorpius" in FishBase. April 2006 version.