Author: Â Oshia Shillingford
Photos by D. Young
Common name:Â Silverspotted Sculpin, Silverspot Sculpin
Scientific name:Â Blepsias cirrhosus
Size range:Â Up to 20cm (8 inches) in length
Identifying Features: The Silverspotted Sculpin is dark to light olive brown, green or coppery yellow in colour. It has reflective silver spots located behind the pectoral fins. It has two dorsal fins, and the second dorsal fin is larger than the first. It has prominent cirri (hair-like structures) on the nose and bottom jaw.
Habitat: The Silverspotted Sculpin is found frin the Aleutian Islands and Alaska down the coast to Northern California. It is often found in protected shallow water among marine plants and seaweeds such as eel grass as well as in kelp beds on exposed shores. They are so well camouflaged that they can often go unnoticed. In Victoria we have most often found them when gently pulling a net through thick seaweed at the edge of docks.
Food: In our marine biology program we have had the Silverspotted Sculpin in an aquarium for four months. During this time it has only been observed eating live shrimp and would not eat the frozen krill. It appears to be an ambush predator. It has been observed hiding in the Eel Grass for long periods of time. Its colouration is very cryptic and it is hard to see within the rotting blades of the eel grass. It darts out to catch the live shrimp and if it’s unsuccessful it will retreat back in to cover.
Predators: The Silverspotted Sculpin has not been observed being taken as prey.  Larger fish or river otters might find the Silver Spottedsculpin a tasty snack. It is very cautious in nature and prefers to be hidden in eel grass and kelp and often looks like floating kelp itself.
Life Cycle: Â Observations are limited on reproduction. Eggs are clear, light brown or blue and they are attached to rocks in shallow waters. In the Puget Sound the eggs ripen in early February.
REFERENCES:Â
Hart, J. L. (1973). Pacific Fishes of Canada: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
 Lamb, A. and Hanby,B.(2005). Marine life of the Pacific Northwest: A photographic encyclopedia of invertebrates, seaweeds and selected fishes. Medeiva Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
