Astrocottus leprops Bolin, 1936
photo by Suzuki, T.

Family:  Cottidae (Sculpins)
Max. size:  5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 394 - 420 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: known only from Japan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 17-18; Vertebrae: 33-35. This species possess the following set of characters: small head, its length 29-32% SL, depth 13-18% SL; barely concave interorbital space, slightly narrow, its width 4.8-7.7% HL; basal length of anal fin 38-42% SL; scales on chin and pectoral-fin rays absent, small scales scattered on ventral surface of trunk; a nuchal cirrus short; cirrus absent below lateral line; D1 IX-X (mode IX), D2 14-16 (mode 15); A 17-18 (mode 17); lateral-line scales 33-35 (mode 34); vertebrae 12 + 21-23 (mode 12 + 22) =33-35 (mode 34) (Ref. 76844).
Biology:  Occurs on sandy and/or cobble bottoms (Ref. 76844).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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