|
Lumpsucker fish are well known for their possession of a powerful suction disk that is formed from the pelvic fins. These fish have skin that is covered with a varying degree of spiny, lumpy and warty appearing plates. The body is stout and sturdy, appearing almost swollen and the tail is small. Lumpsucker fish have spines that are only slightly developed and the skeleton is mostly cartilaginous. The few known species of this fish are known to prefer at habitat in the cold oceanic areas such as from the arctic to the Bay of Biscay and on both shores of the Atlantic Ocean in the seaweed zones of the ocean floor. Here the lumpsucker fish will still itself to a rock while awaiting its prey. This fish feed mostly on worms, small fishes and sheppard fish. The basic coloration of this strange looking fish is a greyish blue. The juveniles will have a prominent dorsal fin that becomes covered with skin in the adult stage of life. The lumps on the skin of the lumpsucker fish are in four diagonal rows along the sides and quite noticeable due to their size.
The lumpsucker fish is known to hold on to any object it attaches itself to with great force requiring a good amount of strength to separate the two. Spawning occurs in March when this fish moves to shallow waters. The male lumpsucker fish has reddish fins which become even more brilliant and their bellies become red during the spawning period. In areas such as those off the Greenland coast the female lumpsucker fish arrive before the males and the spawning occurs later in late April or early May. The females will lay their up to 200,000 or more eggs which are strewn between seaweed and in any available crevice. Once the male has fertilized the eggs he will attach himself to a nearby object where he guards the eggs as they develop. Predators of the lumpsucker fish eggs are met with a fierce display of parental protectiveness by the male should they venture too close to the nesting area.
Once the young have hatched they continue to develop in the shallow waters or occasionally they will attach themselves to the father to be carried to deep water. The young larvae look very similar to tadpoles with a flattened truck that is thick and bears a thin tail. Even though the skin is smooth on the juvenile four longitudinal rows of spines can already be detected. As the juveniles mature these rows will become ridges. The first dorsal fin has four distinct spines and by November the young are beginning to show a greater resemblance to the adults. As juveniles the lumpsucker fish make very suitable aquarium species and are often captured at this stage then later released.
In commercial use the meat of the male lumpsucker fish has been found to be fatty and tasty. The meat is only eaten if the fish is red and then it is served smoked. The meat of the female lumpsucker fish is found to be not very flavorsome but very lean. Many people find the eggs of this fish makes a good substitute for caviar. In most cases the lumpsucker fish is speared since it can rarely be caught with a hook. The main predator of this fish is the seal which has been observed peeling the fish before eating it. Lumpsucker fish are from the Cyclopteridae family of lump fishes but are sometimes put into the distinct family Cyclopterinae since lump fishes differ considerably in appearance.
| 
