Artedius harringtoni, also known as the scalyhead sculpin or plumose sculpin,[3] is a demersal[4] species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins.[5] The species is native to the eastern Pacific.
The genus Artedius is named after Peter Artedi, a naturalist, and A. harringtoni is named after Mark W. Harrington, president of the University of Washington from 1895 to 1897.[2]
Artedius harringtoni uses camouflage to blend into its surroundings. It can be identified by the orange linings of its gills and the orange or red lines running through its eyes.[6] The species also has cirri above each eye.[4] A. harringtoni is sexually dimorphic, with adult males reaching a maximum length of 10 centimeters.[4][2]
Artedius harringtoni is native to the eastern Pacific along the West Coast of the United States and the British Columbia Coast, with a range extending from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to San Miguel Island, California.[2] The species is found in intertidal and sub-tidal rocky bottoms, commonly around pilings,[7] to a depth of 21 meters.[8]
The species reproduces through internal fertilization,[9] with the males guarding the eggs until hatching.[10] Males are highly territorial.[2][7]
Artedius harringtoni is a forager and predator.[11] It has been known to eat the eggs of the Lingcod (Ophiodon elongates).[12]
The species is host to two species of parasitic copepods, Haemobaphes intermedius and Clavella parva,[13] a species of cestodes, (Bothriocephalus scorpii), a species of digenean, (Stephanostomum casum), and two species of nematodes (Ascarophis sebastodis and Contracaecum spiculigerum).[14]
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Artedius harringtoni, also known as the scalyhead sculpin or plumose sculpin, is a demersal species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. The species is native to the eastern Pacific.
