Oligocottus snyderi Greeley, 1898

Common Name and Size

Oligocottus snyderi Greeley, 1898, commonly known as the fluffy sculpin, reaches a maximum length of approximately 9 centimeters (3.5 inches).

Fin Structure

Its dorsal fin contains 7 to 9 spines and 17 to 20 soft rays, while its anal fin has 12 to 15 soft rays and no spines.

Male Anal Fin Morphology

In males of this species, the first anal ray is enlarged, and the first three anal rays are separated from the rest of the anal fin rays.

Body Covering

The body of the fluffy sculpin is smooth and does not have scales.

Cirri Distribution

It has a short spine on its snout with a cirrus next to this spine; it also has tufts of cirri on the top of its head, along its lateral line, and at the base of its dorsal fin.

Body Coloration

The body color of this fish is variable, and can range from green to pink or reddish-brown.

Geographic Range

The fluffy sculpin is native to the western coast of North America, and its native range stretches from Kodiak, Alaska to Baja California.

Habitat Depth and Substrate

It lives on rocky coasts, and occurs from the mid littoral zone down to the shallow subtidal zone.

Low Tide Habitat

When the tide goes out, the species lives in rock pools on the lower shore.

High Tide Foraging Range

When the tide comes back in, it forages across a wider area.

Range Overlap With Tidepool Sculpin

The fluffy sculpin shares most of its geographic range with the closely related tidepool sculpin (Oligocottus maculosus).

Niche Partitioning Between Species

The two species do not appear to compete directly for resources, because the fluffy sculpin prefers rock pools further down the beach, where the water stays cooler.

Homing Behavior

Both species are able to return to their original home pool if they are displaced to a nearby location outside their immediate home range.

Primary Diet

The fluffy sculpin is a predator, and its diet is made up mostly of amphipods and polychaete worms.

Diet of Larger Individuals

Larger fluffy sculpins also eat small shrimps and crabs.

Spawning Period

This species spawns in winter and spring.

Male Mating Adaptation

The male's first anal ray is prehensile, and is used as a clasper to hold onto the female during mating.

Reproduction and Parental Care

Fertilization is internal; clusters of eggs are laid on rocks, and are guarded by the male.

Larval Development

The larvae are planktonic and live in the open sea; metamorphosis into juvenile fish likely takes place during periods when nutrient-rich water upwells along the North American western coast.

Air Breathing Ability

If conditions in the fluffy sculpin's tide pool become unfavorable at low tide, the fish can leave the water and breathe air.

Habitat Tolerance

It is less tolerant of poor habitat conditions than the tidepool sculpin.