The fish family Psychrolutidae (commonly known as blobfishes, flathead sculpins, or tadpole sculpins) contains over 35 recognized species in 8 genera. This family consists of bottom-dwelling marine

sculpin A sculpin is a type of fish that belongs to the superfamily Cottoidea in the order Perciformes.Kane, E. A. and T. E. Higham. (2012)Life in the flow lane: differences in pectoral fin morphology suggest transitions in station-holding demand acros ...

s shaped like

tadpole A tadpole or polliwog (also spelled pollywog) is the Larva, larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully Aquatic animal, aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial animal, ...

s, with large heads and bodies that taper back into small, flat tails. The skin is loosely attached and movable, and the layer underneath it is gelatinous. The eyes are placed high on the head, focused forward closer to the tip of the snout. Members of the family generally have large, leaf-like

pectoral fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish aquatic locomotion, swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the vertebral column ...

s and lack scales, although some species are covered with soft spines. This is important to the species as the depths in which they live are highly pressurized and they are ambush/opportunistic/foraging predators that do not expend energy unless they are forced to. The blobfish has a short, broad tongue and conical teeth that are slightly recurved and are arranged in bands in irregular rows along the premaxillaries; canines are completely absent. Teeth are nonexistent on the palatines and vomer; which make up the hard palate. The blobfish also has a set of specialized

pharyngeal teeth Pharyngeal teeth are teeth in the pharyngeal arch of the throat of cyprinids, suckers, and a number of other fish species otherwise lacking teeth.Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...

and

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...

. ''Psychrolutes phrictus'' have been reported near the Mexican Pacific coast, which extends the southern range by . ''Myoxocephalus thompsonii,'' deepwater sculpin, have even been reported in

Lake Ontario Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. The Canada–United Sta ...

which were once thought to be extirpated. Psychrolutidae species tend to habituate the northern most region of the Pacific ocean due to lower temperatures, and

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

s. They are found in depths ranging from . The adults live on the sea floor, between deep. The intense biological pressure to conserve energy within deep sea fish seems to be true across many species; most of them are long lived, have a slow rate of reproduction, growth, and aging. Furthermore, studies have shown that the Psychrolutidae species displays a wide range of reproductive patterns, which include group synchronous maturation and extended batch spawning, which highlights their adjustment to deep sea habitats. In this case the blobfish can live to be roughly 130 years old. Categorized as the predator of the deep sea they have no real predatory issues; a big help to aid in their energy saving. Their diet also helps in their energy saving abilities. They feed on small

crustaceans Crustaceans (from Latin meaning: "those with shells" or "crusted ones") are invertebrate animals that constitute one group of Arthropod, arthropods that are traditionally a part of the subphylum Crustacea (), a large, diverse group of mainly aquat ...

sea pens Sea pens are marine cnidarians belonging to the superfamily Pennatuloidea, which are colony-forming benthic filter feeders within the order Scleralcyonacea. There are 14 families within the order and 35 extant genera, and it is estimated as of ...

sea worms Sea worm may refer to one or several of the following taxa: See also * Marine worm Any worm that lives in a ocean, marine environment (biophysical), environment is considered a sea or marine worm. Marine worms are found in several different p ...

, and any other small organisms that swim right in front of them. Their name is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

''psychrolouteo'', meaning "to have a cold bath". They tend to live in colder waters, although some range into warm-temperate seas. The

blob sculpin The blob fish (''Psychrolutes phrictus'') or blob sculpin is a species of deep-sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae. It feeds mainly on crustaceans, molluscs, and sea pens. It lives off the continental shelves in very deep water (839–2800&nbs ...

, ''Psychrolutes phrictus'', exhibits complex

nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold Egg (biology), eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of ...

ing behaviors complete with egg guarding. Reproductively the blobfish have been seen gathering in large numbers to lay their pinkish eggs in a single surrounding nesting area. The number of eggs laid within one nest can range from 9,000 to 108,000. Another observation of the parental care of the blobfish is that their eggs resemble being cleaned. It is believed that as the female blobfish hover around the nests they also clean them and remove any sand or dirt.

Subfamilies and genera

Psychrolutidae is divided into two subfamilies in the 5th edition of ''

Fishes of the World ''Fishes of the World'' is a standard reference for the systematics of fishes. It was first written in 1976 by the American ichthyologist Joseph S. Nelson (1937–2011). Now in its fifth edition (2016), the work is a comprehensive overview of t ...

'' as follows: * subfamily Cottunculinae Regan, 1913 ** ''

Ambophthalmos ''Ambophthalmos'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Psychrolutidae. These fishes are found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, o ...

'' K. L. Jackson & J. S. Nelson, 1998 ** ''

Cottunculus ''Cottunculus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Psychrolutidae. These fishes are found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Species There are currently 6 recognized species in this genus: * '' Cottunculus gran ...

'' Collett, 1876 ** ''

Dasycottus The spinyhead sculpin (''Dasycottus setiger'') is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Psychrolutidae, the fatheads. This species is found in the northern Pacific Ocean. This species is the only species in the monospecific ...

'' T.H. Bean, 1890 ** ''

Eurymen ''Eurymen'' is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Psychrolutidae, the fatheads. These fishes are found in the northern Pacific Ocean. Species There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * '' Eurymen b ...

'' Gilbert &

Burke Burke (; ) is a Normans in Ireland, Norman-Irish surname, deriving from the ancient Anglo-Norman and Hiberno-Norman noble dynasty, the House of Burgh. In Ireland, the descendants of William de Burgh (''circa'' 1160–1206) had the surname'' de B ...

, 1912 ** ''

Malacocottus ''Malacocottus'' is a genus of fatheads native to the northern Pacific Ocean. Malacocottus are typically occupied in the benthic zone near the bottom of the northern Pacific Ocean. Species There are currently 4 recognized species in this genus: ...

'' T.H. Bean, 1890 * subfamily Psychrolutinae Günther, 1861 ** ''

Ebinania ''Ebinania'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the Family (biology), family Psychrolutidae, the fatheads. These fishes are found in the Southern, Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Description Ebinania is distinguished from o ...

'' Sakamoto, 1932 ** '' Gilbertidia''

Berg Berg may refer to: People *Berg (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * General Berg (disambiguation) * Berg Ng (born 1960), Hong Kong actor * Berg (footballer, born 1963), Ninimbergue dos Santos Guerra, Brazilian footba ...

, 1898 ** ''

Neophrynichthys ''Neophrynichthys'' is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Psychrolutidae, the fatheads. These fishes are found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean waters around New Zealand New Zealand () is an island count ...

'' Günther, 1876 ** '' Psychrolutes'' Günther, 1861 Other authorities include many of the genera of marine sculpins from the family

Cottidae The Cottidae are a family of fish in the superfamily Cottoidea, the sculpins. It is the largest sculpin family, with about 275 species in 70 genera.Kane, E. A. and T. E. Higham. (2012)Life in the flow lane: differences in pectoral fin morphology ...

in the Psychrolutidae, leaving the Cottidae as a largely freshwater family. For example, the ''

Catalog of Fishes Catalog of Fishes is a comprehensive on-line database and reference work on the scientific names of fish species and genera. It is global in its scope and is hosted by the California Academy of Sciences. It has been compiled and is continuously up ...

'' classifies the family as follows: * subfamily Psychrolutinae Günther, 1861 ** '' Alcichthys''

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

& Starks, 1904 ** ''

'' Jackson & Nelson, 1998 ** '' Andriashevicottus'' Fedorov, 1990 ** ''

Antipodocottus ''Antipodocottus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the Family (biology), family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the western Pacific Ocean. This is the only genus of Cottids represented in the Southern ...

'' Bolin, 1952 ** '' Archistes'' Jordan & Gilbert, 1898 ** '' Artediellichthys'' Fedorov, 1973 ** '' Artediellina'' Taranetz 1941 ** '' Artedielloides'' Soldatov, 1922 ** ''

Artediellus ''Artediellus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. Most of the fishes in this genus are found in the northern Pacific Ocean but they also occur in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. ...

'' Jordan, 1885 ** '' Ascelichthys'' Jordan & Gilbert, 1880 ** '' Astrocottus'' Bolin, 1936 ** '' Atopocottus'' Bolin, 1936 ** '' Bero'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 ** '' Bolinia'' Yabe, 1991 ** '' Chitonotus'' Lockington, 1879 ** '' Cottiusculus'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 ** ''Cottunculus'' Collett, 1875 ** '' Daruma'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 ** ''Dasycottus'' T.H. Bean, 1890 ** ''Ebinania'' Sakamoto, 1932 ** ''Eurymen'' Gilbert & Burke, 1912 ** ''Gilbertidia'' Berg, 1898 ** '' Leiocottus'' Girard, 1856 ** '' Lepidobero'' K. J. Qin & X. B. Jin, 1992 ** ''Malacocottus'' T.H. Bean, 1890 ** '' Micrenophrys'' Andriashev, 1954 ** ''

'' Günther, 1876 ** '' Ocynectes'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 ** '' Phallocottus''

Schultz Schultz is a German and Dutch surname derived from ''Schultheiß'', meaning village headman or constable/sheriff in the medieval sense (akin to today's office of mayor). It has many variations, such as Schuldt, Schulte, Schulten, Schultes, Schul ...

, 1938 ** '' Phasmatocottus'' Bolin, 1936 ** '' Pseudoblennius''

Temminck Coenraad Jacob Temminck (; 31 March 1778 – 30 January 1858) was a Dutch patrician, zoologist and museum director. Biography Coenraad Jacob Temminck was born on 31 March 1778 in Amsterdam in the Dutch Republic. From his father, Jacob ...

& Schlegel, 1850 ** ''Psychrolutes'' Günther, 1861 ** '' Radulinopsis'' Soldatov &

Lindberg Lindberg is a municipality in the district of Regen in Bavaria in Germany in the immediate neighbourhood of the larger town Zwiesel. Location Lindberg lies in the Danube Forest (''Donau-Wald'') region in the middle of the Bavarian Forest on ...

, 1930 ** '' Ricuzenius'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 ** '' Ruscarius'' Jordan & Starks, 1895 ** '' Sigmistes'' Rutter, 1898 ** '' Stelgistrum'' Jordan & Gilbert, 1898 ** '' Synchirus'' T.H. Bean, 1890 ** '' Taurocottus'' Soldatov & Pavlenko, 1915 ** '' Thyriscus'' Gilbert & Burke, 1912 ** '' Trichocottus'' Soldatov & Pavlenko, 1915 ** '' Triglops'' Reinhardt, 1830 ** '' Vellitor'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 ** '' Zesticelus'' Jordan & Evermann, 1896 * subfamily Myoxocephalinae Gill, 1908 ** '' Argyrocottus'' Herzenstein, 1892 ** ''

Enophrys ''Enophrys'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean. Taxonomy ''Enophrys'' was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 183 ...

'' Swainson, 1839 ** '' Megalocottus''

Gill A gill () is a respiration organ, respiratory organ that many aquatic ecosystem, aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow r ...

, 1861 ** '' Microcottus''

Schmidt Schmidt may refer to: * Schmidt (surname), including list of people and fictional characters with the surname * Schmidt (singer) (born 1990), German pop and jazz singer * Schmidt (lunar crater), a small lunar impact crater * Schmidt (Martian c ...

, 1940 ** ''

Myoxocephalus ''Myoxocephalus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. They are found in the northern Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, with a few species in lakes. Taxonomy ''Myoxocephalus'' was firs ...

'' Tilesius, 1811 ** '' Porocottus'' Gill, 1859 ** '' Taurulus'' Gratzianov, 1907 * subfamily Oligocottinae Hubbs, 1926 ** ''

Artedius ''Artedius'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northern Pacific Ocean. Taxonomy ''Artedius'' was first proposed as a genus in 1854 by the French zoologist ...

'' Girard, 1856 ** ''

Clinocottus ''Clinocottus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. They are nearshore benthic fishes native to the northeastern Pacific Ocean. They are mentioned as sharpnose sculpins.Furcina'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 ** ''

Icelinus ''Icelinus''is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the Family (biology), family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These fishes are found in the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean. Taxonomy ''Icelinus'' was first proposed as a monospec ...

'' Jordan, 1885 ** ''

Oligocottus ''Oligocottus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the Family (biology), family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. These sculpins are found in the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean. Taxonomy ''Oligocottus'' was first proposed as ...

'' Girard 1856 ** ''Orthonopias'' Starks & William M. Mann, Mann, 1911 ** ''Stlengis'' Jordan & Starks, 1904 * subfamily Icelinae Jordan, 1923 ** '' Chitonotus'' Lockington, 1879 ** ''Gymnocanthus'' Swainson, 1839 ** ''Icelus (genus), Icelus'' Henrik Nikolai Krøyer, Krøyer, 1845 ** ''Rastrinus'' Jordan & Barton Warren Evermann, Evermann, 1896 * subfamily Radulinae Taranetz, 1941 ** ''Asemichthys'' Gilbert, 1912 ** ''Radulinus'' Gilbert, 1890

References

Glubokov, A.I., Glubokovskii, M.K. & Kovacheva, N.P. New Data on Soft Sculpin Malacocottus zonurus (Psychrolutidae) from the Northwestern Bering Sea. J. Ichthyol. 59, 435–438 (2019). Retrieved 23 March 2021.

External links

Photo of a Fathead trawled near New Zealand
{{Authority control Psychrolutidae, Perciformes families