Family Cyclopteridae

Lumpfishes

Selected Characters: Body globular, often covered with tubercles; two dorsal fins (first dorsal beneath skin and not visible in some species); pelvic fins united as a sucking disc.

This family is found only in the cooler areas of the Northern Hemisphere's oceans. The 26 species tend to live near the bottom in shallow water. They are oviparous, and in some species the male may guard the eggs while they develop. The only cyclopterid known to occur in Puget Sound is the Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker, which has a maximum length of 13 cm and may be found in eelgrass communities or attached to rocks or pilings. This intriguing fish is common in some areas of Puget Sound.

Puget Sound Species

Eumicrotremus orbis Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker