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Perciformes/Cottoidei (Sculpins) >
Cottidae (Sculpins)
Etymology: Micrenophrys: Greek, mikros = small + Greek, ophrys = eye bow.
Eponymy: Wilhelm Lilljeborg (1816–1908) was a Swedish zoologist who became Professor of Zoology at Uppsala University and a member of the Swedish Academy of Science (1861). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 100 m (Ref. 35388). Temperate; 66°N - 48°N, 25°W - 13°E
Northeast Atlantic: Norwegian coasts to Namdahl to off Denmark, around British Isles and across to Iceland. Pelagic larvae spreading to western Murman and Icelandic waters.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4698); common length : 6.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4698)
Differs from Taurulus bubalis by the row of bony knobs above the rough lateral line and by the 2 soft rays in the anal fin (Ref. 35388).
Found on hard bottoms (gravel or shells) or among algae with temperatures ranging below 0°C. Feeds on small crustaceans (amphipods, decapods) and fishes. Spawns in early spring. Eggs demersal, in clumps on bottom, diameter 2 mm; larvae pelagic (Ref. 4698).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Fedorov, V.V., 1986. Cottidae. p. 1243-1260. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 3. (Ref. 4698)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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