The grunt sculpin or grunt-fish (Rhamphocottus richardsonii) is a small fish mainly found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The grunt sculpin generally remains close to shore and is often found in empty giant barnacle shells. The common name comes from reports that the fish vibrate or "grunt" when held. Its defining feature is its tendency to "hop" along the ocean floor on its orange fins. The short, stout body of the grunt sculpin has a long, small mouth which is adapted for eating smaller prey.
right|thumb|Grunt Sculpin, photograph courtesy [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]]
Taxonomy
It is a member of the class Actinopterygii, the ray-finned fishes. It is further classified into the order Scorpaeniformes, commonly known as the mail-cheeked fishes. The superfamily Cottoidea which is classified within this order includes R. richardsonii and all other sculpins. However, the grunt sculpin was regarded as the only member of the family Rhamphocottidae until the Ereuniidae was synonymized with Rhamphocottidae. The records from the western North Pacific are now thought to probably refer to Rhamphocottus nagaaki which was described as a new species in 2022.
Its genus name comes from meaning snout and meaning sculpin based on its physical characteristics. Its species name honors the Scottish naturalist John Richardson.
Description
The largest recorded length for the grunt sculpin is only 8.9 cm. Its main features are its big head, short, stout body, long pig snout, and orange fins. In these regions, the grunt sculpin resides in a variety of habitats such as rocky shores, kelp forest, sandy beaches, and reefs. In these habitats, it generally remains in shallower waters (as shallow as two meters) but it has been found at depths of 165 meters.