- The High Cockscomb is about a fish Anoplarchus purpurescens that belongs to the Prickleback family Stichaeidae
- High Cockscombs are amazing fish that can remain out of water under rocks and seaweed for 15 to 25 hours if they are moist.
- How they do this is explained in this publication: Evans, D.H., J.B. Claiborne and G.A. Kormanik, 1999. Osmoregulation, acid-base regulation, and nitrogen excretion. p. 79-96 In M.H. Horn, K.L.M. Martin and M.A. Chotkowski (eds.). Intertidal fishes live in two worlds. Academic Press, San Diego, USA, 399 p.
- For interesting information about the reproductive biology of this fish look at High Cockscomb reproductive biology by Ronald M. Coleman
- Most of the ones I find range 30->90 mm from snout to end of tail.
- They are described as elongate eel-like fish.
- They are “officially” called remainers, which means they remain out of water under cover such as a boulder or seaweed when the tide goes out.
- At this time they are completely out of water but moist. They probably breath air through their skin.
- The female takes care of the eggs which are in a golf ball sized shape.
- It will be fun to look for the female tending the eggs — probably in late winter-early spring. Apparently as the tide goes out she stays with the eggs usually under a rock.
- To learn more about these intertidal fish look at the essay by Mary Willson
