Hookear sculpins (genus Artediellus ) of the North American Atlantic: taxonomy, morphological variability, distribution, and aspects of life history

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Guelpen, Louis Van
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1986
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Baffin Island; Baffin
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z86-100; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z86-100

Difficulty in identifying the two nominal species of hookear sculpins (genus Artediellus) from the North American Atlantic has led to confusion in their taxonomy and reported distributions. The species were found to be separable using nine meristic and six morphological characters, as well as collection locality. Sexual dimorphism and clinal geographic variation occurred in several characters of both species. The known northern limit of A. atlanticus (the Atlantic hookear) in North America was extended to southeast Baffin Island, also the northern limit for A. uncinatus (the snowflake hookear). The southern limits were off Cape Cod for A. atlanticus and northern Nova Scotia for A. uncinatus. Artediellus uncinatus inhabited a shallower depth range (13–183 m) than A. atlanticus (0–384 m), indicating at least partial ecological separation. The latter species had a positive size–depth relationship, with the largest fish inhabiting the deep northern waters. Artediellus atlanticus seemed to prefer softer bottom sediments, while A. uncinatus showed no preference. Overall, sex ratios were similar (1.29 males to females in A. atlanticus and 1.12 in A. uncinatus). In North American waters, A. atlanticus spawns from approximately May to November and A. uncinatus during summer. Both nominal species warrant full specific status; however, subspecies designations appear unfounded.