(Kongensvoll - Sør-Trøndelag / 8 meters / 10.25.2003)

Phylum: Chordata

Superclass: Gnathostomata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Scorpaeniformes

Family: Cottidae

Scientific name: Myoxocephalus scorpius

 

Norwegian: vanlig ulke

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Distribution: The bull rout is very common along the entire Norwegian coast, hunting and resting on sandy or rocky substrate. It is most common above 30 meters depth, but has been reported as deep as 250 meters.

Characteristics: This is a large scorpion fish, reaching a length of 60 cm in some cases. The coloration varies too much to be used as identification. It has two distinct spines on the gill cover and a number of smaller spines along the lateral line. The fact that it lacks barbels in the corner of the mouth, can be used to distinguish the bull rout from many of the other scorpion fish. The head is wide, compared to the body.

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