Rock Cook

Snout with 5-10 pores. Upper lip with 5-7 folds. Rows of scales on cheek 3-5, on inter-operculum 2 (7-11) scales, on temporo-occipital surface 5-8. Vertebrae 32-34. Preoperculum edge serrated. One row of scales on base of soft part of dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 232). No black spots on the body or fins (Ref. 35388).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Males build dish shaped nests and guard the eggs (Ref. 205). Also Ref. 103751.

Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 7; Anal spines: 4 - 6; Analsoft rays: 6 - 8

Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 4742).

Adults are found in eel-grass beds near rocks. Feed on small invertebrates (Ref. 4742). Eggs are laid in the summer in a seaweed nest (Ref. 35388). Males grow faster than females (Ref. 4792). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Used in salmon culture as cleaner fish (Helmut Tethmeyer, pers. comm.).

fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: public aquariums