The first data on the biology and distribution of the Japanese fringed sculpin Porocottus japonicus Schmidt, 1935 (Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae) in the northwestern Sea of Japan

Abstract

The Japanese fringed sculpin Porocottus japonicus Schmidt has been found in the Rynda (44°48′03″ N, 136°23′24″ E) and Vladimira (43°52′36″ N, 135°29′30″ E) (Sea of Japan, Primorskii krai) bays for the first time. This species was formerly known only from the northern Tatar Strait and Aniva Bay. In Primorskii krai, P. japonicus inhabits macrophyte beds in shallow sublittoral waters. It reaches a length of 112 mm during its lifespan of approximately 4 years. Spawning occurs in the winter. The species preys predominantly on polychaetes (82.3% of the food weight).