The Wooly Sculpin

I didn’t see this fish at first. Then the fish started swimming. The Wooly Sculpin fish survives in tide pools because it is so well camouflaged. Notice that this fish is not purple or red. Its coloring, scale patterns, and texture match the rocks, bits of shell, and algae upon which it rests. This fish needs to hide because it is eaten by many, many species of larger fish. The Wooly Sculpin grows to just a few
inches long. Those feathery fins on each side hold it in place so it looks like a piece of rock. It sits and waits until a small worm or snail comes by, then it bursts forward and swallows the prey. Don’t try to catch a Wooly Sculpin with your bare hand. Do you see why? Can you see the tiny white spines sticking out from its body? Yowzah! Those would poke your little fingers! Best to just look at them from a distance.


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