Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker

Eumicrotremus orbis

The Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker is a small, globular fish, typically measuring 1 to 3 inches in length, with a maximum size of around 18 cm. Its body is covered in cone-shaped plates called tubercles, which replace scales and vary in color from brown and green to dull orange or reddish brown in males. Females are generally dull green. This species is easily recognizable by its large lips, protruding eyes, and a unique suction cup formed by modified pelvic fins, allowing it to cling to surfaces like rocks or kelp. Due to its inefficient swimming, the lumpsucker often relies on camouflage and its suction cup for stability in the water. This species inhabits the North Pacific, from Washington's Puget Sound to the Aleutian Islands and northern Japan. It is found in diverse habitats such as eelgrass beds, rocky reefs, and kelp patches, typically in shallow waters up to 60 meters deep. The lumpsucker's diet consists of slow-moving crustaceans, polychaete worms, and mollusks, which it finds on sandy or muddy sea floors. Reproduction occurs in shallow, warmer waters from July to October. Females lay about 200 large, orange eggs on rocks, which are then fertilized by males. The male guards the eggs, ensuring their oxygen supply by fanning them with his fins. After hatching, juveniles quickly become independent. The Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker is considered harmless to humans and is known to interact with divers. Its conservation status is listed as Least Concern, though climate change poses potential threats to its habitat.