We divers see some pretty strange things while exploring underwater habitats, and sometimes, the fish we see are nowhere to be found on fish ID charts. One strange critter you might have encountered is the Lumpsucker – a rotund little fish with interesting habits that make it fun to encounter. Let’s take a closer look.
Lumpsucker Basics
It’s often quite easy to see how various fish and other animals have adapted to enjoy successful lives in environments others might find uninhabitable. The lumpsucker has adapted to cling to a variety of substrates, where it waits for prey to approach. As the fish’s shape suggests, it is not well-adapted to swimming; in fact, it looks pretty clumsy any time it is encountered moving from one place to the next.
Lumpsuckers are named for their appearance. They look a bit like puffer fish, with little round eyes and tiny tails; the fish’s pectoral fins are actually suckers that allow them to fasten themselves to the bottom. In addition, they tend to have tubercles along their heads and bodies, which add to their lumpy appearance, though these tubercles take on a whisker-like appearance in some species. In all, there are 27 known lumpsucker species, ranging in average size from two to fifty centimeters long at adulthood.
The fish have adapted to blend in well with their environments, so move slowly if you hope to spot one. They are normally a brownish to greyish color, though they are sometimes green or even yellowish-orange. They tend to have protruding eyes and large lips, which give them a comical appearance and make them a favorite with photographers.
Most specimens found in shallow water are juveniles. Older, larger lumpsuckers normally inhabit deeper water, and have been found living at depths as great as 1,700 meters. Larger fish do come into shallow, intertidal waters to spawn, normally between the months of December and June. Some species, such as the Cyclopeterus Lumpus, which ranges throughout the Chesapeake Bay, North American Atlantic coast, and the North European Atlantic coast, take on a reddish hue during the spawning season. Mature males are brighter than females, so they’re easy to spot in areas where they have spawned.
Once eggs have been laid, male lumpsuckers normally guard the nests, while females go on about their business. After the eggs hatch, the adult males leave the spawning area. Young fry then cling to rocks, staying in warmer, shallower water until their bodies are fully developed. Once they move into deeper water, they become prey for larger predatory fish including sablefish and Pacific cod.
You’ll find various lumpsucker species living in temperate to cold marine environments. The fish are found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, as well as in the Arctic. As the fish feed on invertebrates, including small crustaceans, mollusks, and marine worms, they are easiest to find in areas where their prey is plentiful. While diving, look for lumpsuckers in rocky areas, and keep an eye out for them in kelp gardens as well as in eelgrass beds and areas such as inside shallow bays and around docks. Spend a few minutes watching, and you’ll find this little sea creature is fascinating as well as just a bit bizarre.