Lumpfish, Sea Snail 389 



Lumpfish 

 Cyclopterus lumpus (Linnaeus) 



Color: Variable; gray-blue, slate blue, yellow-green, olive, 

 shades of brown; belly a paler shade of same color or 

 white. Some fish have dark blotches or black dots on the 

 back and sides. 



Distribution: Occurs on both sides of the North Atlantic. 

 In the western Atlantic it is found from Davis Strait south- 

 ward to New Jersey and as a stray to Chesapeake Bay. 

 Size: Reaches a length of about 2 feet. The heaviest fish 

 reported weighed 20 pounds. 



General Information: The Lumpfish'' is mostly a bottom 

 species but is often found floating among masses of sea- 

 weed. It is common in cool, shoal waters over rocky bot- 

 toms. This fish will frequently attach itself to the sides of 

 lobster cars, poles of fish traps, or stones by the ventral 

 sucker-like disc. Spawning occurs in late winter and spring. 

 The eggs are sticky and sink to the bottom where they 

 adhere to each other in a large spongy mass. The male 

 Lumpfish guards the eggs until they hatch. The Lumpfish 

 feeds on small crustaceans, small fishes, and jellyfishes. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



Sea Snail 

 Neoliparis atlanticus Jordan and Evermann 



