Apr 24, 2023
A black prickleback (Xiphister atropurpureus) in Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, California, USA
by Ron Wolf
seen from Germany
seen from Belgium
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seen from Italy
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from Israel
seen from United States
seen from Ireland
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Italy
seen from Russia
seen from Italy
seen from Singapore
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seen from United States
seen from Russia
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seen from Bangladesh
A black prickleback (Xiphister atropurpureus) in Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, California, USA
by Ron Wolf
Young pricklebacks. The splotchy one is a monkeyface prickleback and the other is a black prickleback.
MONKEYFACE PRICKLEBACK (Cebidichthys violaceus)
zimway2k, 2010. “what a face #2 (monkeyface eel)” Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory, Santa Cruz, California
Meet the monkeyface prickleback. The fish with a face even its mother couldn’t love. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the ‘monkeyface’ bit (hint: it’s the ‘nose’) but ‘prickleback’ refers to the many spines supporting the fish’s large dorsal fin. There are actually around 70 species of prickleback (Stichaeidae), including absolute gems like the high cockscomb (Anoplarchus purpurescens) and pighead prickleback (Acantholumpenus mackayi).