deepwater sculpin Myoxocephalus thompsonii Kingdom: Animalia FEATURES Phylum: Chordata The deepwater sculpin may attain a length of nine Class: Osteichthyes inches. It is gray-brown on the back and upper sides Order: Scorpaeniformes with a white belly. Dark bars can be seen on all of the fins except the pelvic fins. Brown to green Family: Cottidae blotches are present on the sides as are four to ILLINOIS STATUS seven, green saddles on the back. The body is wide at the front and tapers toward the tail. The wide, flat common, native head has a large mouth that extends to beneath the eye. The pectoral fins are big and fanlike. Spines are adult present at the front of the gill cover. There are large scales above the lateral line and on the back. The dorsal fin is separated into two parts with a large space between them. Bony plates on the sides develop along the lateral line.

© Konrad P. Schmidt, University of Minnesota BEHAVIORS The deepwater sculpin may be found along the bottom of Lake Michigan. It eats midge larvae and other immature aquatic insects. Little is known about its life history.

ILLINOIS RANGE

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Aquatic Habitats Lake Michigan

Woodland Habitats none

Prairie and Edge Habitats none

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.