About Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus (Tilesius, 1811)
Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus, commonly called the red Irish lord, reaches an average length of about 30 cm (12 in), with a maximum recorded length of 51 cm (20 in) and a maximum recorded weight of 1,100 g (39 oz). Like most sculpins, it is only partially scaled, has a broad head, large eyes, and a slimmer body. This species is characterized by a dorsal fin split into three notches, with an average of 10 to 12 dorsal spines and 18–20 soft dorsal rays. It has several distinct bands of scales along its body: the dorsal band is roughly 4–5 scales wide, and a second band below the lateral line is about 10 scales wide. No scales are present on its underside. It has 4–8 barbels on its frontal cirri and 4–8 barbels on its nasal cirri, and lacks fleshy flaps on its nostrils. It has 35 vertebrae. The red Irish lord gets its common name from its characteristic red base coloration, which can also include mottled brown, white, and black markings. It is typically darker on its upper side and paler, ranging to almost white, on its underside. Spots and mottling are more prominent in larger fish, and are always visible on individuals longer than 6 cm (2.4 in). The pectoral and anal fins have mottled patterning. The pelvic fins are pale, but are spotted or dark in large mature males. This species can change its color to blend in with surrounding habitats. It can be distinguished from similar related species: the similar brown Irish lord has a dorsal scale band 6–8 scales wide, instead of 4–5, while the yellow Irish lord has more slender cirri. The red Irish lord inhabits temperate demersal marine environments between 66°N and 34°N. It is found mostly in the coastal waters of the Northern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Bering Sea in Russia, through Alaska, down the U.S. West Coast as far as Monterey Bay, California, though it is rare this far south. As a sculpin, it is a benthic, bottom-dwelling fish that mostly lives in shallow waters, but can survive at greater depths. It prefers coastal rocky habitats in reefs and shallow intertidal zone areas, ranging from the intertidal up to around 50 m (160 ft) in depth, but can be found as deep as 450 m (1,500 ft). Its camouflaged coloration and hunting style let it hide on the sea floor among sand, rocks, and other marine life while it waits to ambush prey. It is not harmful to humans. The red Irish lord is a non-migratory species. Its life cycle has five developmental stages: egg, larvae, pre-juvenile, juvenile, and adult. While maternal guarding of young is most common in this species, males build and guard nests that females then lay eggs into. Eggs are laid in a single mass between October and January, and the guarding individual retreats when low tide occurs. Juveniles usually stay in tide pools for a period of time after developing.
