| Arctic shanny | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Stichaeidae |
| Genus: | Stichaeus |
| Species: | S. punctatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Stichaeus punctatus (Fabricius, 1780) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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TheArctic shanny (Stichaeus punctatus) is a species of marineray-finned fish belonging to thefamilyStichaeidae, the pricklebacks and shannies. This species occurs in the North Pacific, Arctic and western North Atlantic Oceans.
The Arctic shanny was first formallydescribed in 1780 asBlennius punctatus by the DanishzoologistJohan Christian Fabricius, giving itstype locality as WesternGreenland.[2] WhenJohan Reinhardt proposed thegenusStichaeus he designatedBlennius punctatus as itstype species.[3] Thespecific namepunctatus means spotted, a reference to the 5 or 6 spots on thedorsal fin.[4]
Some authorities recognise two subspecies of the Arctic shanny:[5]
The nominate subspecies is found in the northern western Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is sympatric withS.p. pulcherrimus in the Sea of Okhtosk and this subspecies may be a valid, distinct species.[6]
The Arctic shanny has the moderately elongated, laterally compressed body which is covered in tiny cycloid scales and scaleless head of te genusStichaeus. It has teeth on the jaws, vomer and palatine. The teeth on the upper jaw are arranged in between two and four rows while those in the lower jaw form a single row. The jaws are equal in length or the lower jaw may just protrude beyond the upper jaw. The head has a number of sensory canals which are made up of 60 to 73 pores. The single lateral line does not reach the caudal fin and appears to be an extension of the post orbital sensory canal. The anal fin has no rear spines. There are 46 to 40 spines in thedorsal fin and 1 or 2 spines and between 32 and 35 soft rays in theanal fin. It has bright red flanks with vague brownish spots and wavy brown lines on the gill cover and wavy stripes between the eye and the chin. The reddish dorsal fin is marked with diffuse grey spots and 5 ocelli with yellow centres and blackish edges.[5] The maximum publishedtotal length is 22 cm (8.7 in).[1]
The Arctic shanny is found in the Arctic, North Pacific and northwestern Atlantic Oceans, it occurs South toBritish Columbia in the Pacific and toMaine in the Atlantic and east as far as Western Greenland. It is a demersal fish found at depths from 0 to 100 m (0 to 328 ft) in area of sand and rock below the low tide mark.[1]
The Arctic shanny is a benthic species which feeds on crustaceans and worms.[1] They probably spawn in the middle of winter.[7]