Liparis atlanticus
| Liparis atlanticus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Liparidae |
| Genus: | Liparis |
| Species: | L. atlanticus |
| Binomial name | |
| Liparis atlanticus (D. S. Jordan & Evermann, 1898) | |
The Atlantic seasnail or Atlantic snailfish (Liparis antlanticus) is a fish belonging to the genus Liparis. It is a small tadpole-like fish with a soft, scaleless body and complex ventral sucker. The ventral fins have been re purposed to be a sucker. They have a single dorsal fin with about six spines differentiated from the soft rays by a slight notch. This species reaches a maximum length of about 5 inches. It ranges from Newfoundland to New Jersey. The Atlantic seasnail lives in the immediately subtidal region to depths of 183 m (100 fathoms.) In northern parts of its range, it is found on the shore line. It breeds in mid-winter, the eggs being laid amongst hydroid growths on the sea bed, and on stony ground. Its food is mainly small crustaceans, particularly shrimps, but occasionally small fishes are eaten.
References
- "Fishes of the World". Alwyne Wheeler.
- "The Inland Fishes of New York State." C. Lavett Smith.