Fourhorn Sculpin

Myoxocephalus quadricornis

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AFC4E04010
Common Name: 
Fourhorn Sculpin
Scientific Name: 
Myoxocephalus quadricornis
Naming References: 
B011
B059
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Fish
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Actinopterygii
Order: 
Scorpaeniformes
Family: 
Cottidae
References: 
B011
B059
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

4-5 yrs
References: 
R034

Longevity

females = up to 14 yrs; males = up to 11 yrs
References: 
R034

Economic/Human Considerations

important role in the coastal ecosystem (possible environmental monitor)(R034); subsistence fisheries(W017)
References: 
R034
W017
Habitat
Marine form = salt and brackish waters close to coast, up estuaries as far as 150 km- avoid the Mackenzie plume - Adults are benthic, larvae are pelagic, overwinter in bays-inlets-deltas free of landfast ice ;Freshwater form = relict populations - from me(R034). Env:demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 1-100m. Clim:polar; 83°N-51°N, 5°E-168°W(W017). Shallowsto 45m(R131)
References: 
H126
R034
R131
W017
Distribution

Ecozones

Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Beaufort Sea Amundsen Gulf, Arctic Basin, Viscount Melville Sea Region, High Arctic Sea Archipelago
References: 
R034
R131

Distribution

Total = 16% (both marine & freshwater froms); Freshwater from: about 3-5% (visual est. from R034)
Score: 
G
References: 
R034
Marine Distribution Description: 
16% (visual est. from R034)

Number of Occurrences

Freshwater = lakes on Arctic Archip (NT, NU), Victoria (NT,NU), Cornwallis (NU), Ellesmere (NU); Marine in NT = about 20-100; Arctic coastal waters;25+ known occurrences in NWT: from Delta along coast to Darnley Bay; Banks Is.; Prince Patrick Is.
Score: 
CD
References: 
R034

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
Population

Population Size

Marine: > 10 000; freshwater form: unknown(R034); Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=3-5; tmax=14; Fec=792) (W017). 39.6cm (R131).
Score: 
F
References: 
R034
R131
W017
Threats

Threats

Susceptible to trace contaminant exposure, pesticide exposure and shifts in species composition (freshwater form); limited in NWT; limited in Nunavut except on Cornwaliis Ils where lead-zinc mining activity exist (Garrow Lake)
Score: 
C
References: 
R034

Intrinsic Vulnerability

future petrochemical exploration & exploitation, future mining; limited at present
Score: 
-
References: 
R034
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
For freshwater form only COSEWIC 2003 revised status = Data deficient (S Carriere). Very abundant: the marine form of this species in Arctic assessed as Not at Risk according to COSEWIC (R131).
S Rank: 
SU
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by S. Carriere; from printed material; Reviewed by L Cooper, G Low, Dr Reist in 2005, no change; Undetermined following COSEWIC report (2003); Reviewed by DFO in 2010,no change; Reviewed by DFO in 2015, no change; Draft rank by DFO in 2015, modified from undetermined to secure
Last Updated: 
April 7, 2015
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Data Deficient
References: 
R034
R150

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return
  • COSEWIC (2003) COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis (freshwater form) in Canada.. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Based on Houston, J.J.P. 1989. vi + 24 pp. - R150 Return

Economic Status

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return
  • FishBase (2004) Fish Base, accessed Nov 5, 2004. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2004 www.fishbase.org, version (09/2004) - W017 Return

Ecozones

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return
  • Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 Return

Habitat

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return
  • Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 Return
  • FishBase (2004) Fish Base, accessed Nov 5, 2004. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2004 www.fishbase.org, version (09/2004) - W017 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return

Longevity

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return

Naming

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return

Population Size

Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return
,
Coad B.W. and Reist J.D. (2004) Annotated List of the Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada.. DFO, Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674 - R131 Return
,
FishBase (2004) Fish Base, accessed Nov 5, 2004. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2004 www.fishbase.org, version (09/2004) - W017 Return

Range Extent

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return

Taxonomy

  • Scott WB and Crossman EJ (1979) Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Bryant Press Ltd RWED Library Call #QL626.S3 - B011 Return
  • McPhail JD, and Lindsey CC (1970) Freshwater Fishes of Northwestern Canada and Alaska. Queen's Printer for Canada Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 173 RWED Library Call QL 626.M3 - B059 Return

Threats

  • Houston J (1989) Status report on the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R034 Return