Distribution and Some Biological Features of Antlered Sculpin Enophrys diceraus (Cottidae) in Russian Waters of the Sea of Japan

Abstract

In Russian waters of the Sea of Japan, antlered sculpin Enophrys diceraus occurs throughout the year at depths of 4–605 m and temperature of –1.4 to +16.8°C. It is concentrated in the range of depths 30–90 m at 7.3–2.1°C in summer and 200–380 m in winter at stable low-positive temperature. Its spawning migrations in autumn and feeding migrations in spring are directed towards the coast. The main aggregations are formed in the south (Peter the Great Bay) and in central regions off the continental coast and in the southern part of Sakhalin off the insular coast. It does not form aggregations in the northern part of Tatar Strait. Antlered sculpin reaches a larger size (length of 38 cm and weight of over 1 kg) in the Sea of Japan than in northern seas. The maximum size is inherent in males. In the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan, antlered sculpin is a benthophage–polyphage: juveniles feed mainly on bivalve mollusks, amphipods, and polychaetes and adult individuals generally eat echinoderms (mainly brittle stars) and mollusks. The revealed regional and seasonal variation in the food composition is presumably determined by the food supply features. In April to August, the daily ration of the fish with a length of 11–30 cm is 1.1% of the body weight and decreases from 2.6 to 0.9% with its growth. The biomass of antlered sculpin in Russian waters of the Sea of Japan has varied from 5000 to 7000 t in recent years. The bulk of its stock is concentrated off the continental coast.