Reproduction and Associated Behaviour in the Shorthorn Sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius in Newfoundland Waters

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Abstract
In Newfoundland waters, maturing ovaries of the shorthorn sculpin contain three generations of ova. Only the largest or ripe ova of the first generation are deposited at spawning time, which starts in late November or early December and lasts for about 1 month. It appears that only one male and one female participate in the spawning act and the eggs are laid in V-shaped crevices on rocky bottom at depths between 20 and 35 ft (6 and 11 m). The eggs adhere firmly to each other and the egg mass so formed adheres firmly to the bottom. After spawning, the spent females move from the spawning area to deeper water, but the males remain guarding the eggs until they hatch. At temperatures near 0 C embryonic development takes over 3 months to complete. Hatching starts around mid-March and lasts for 3–4 weeks. Newly hatched larvae occupy all layers of the water column over the spawning grounds but tend to concentrate near the bottom. Fecundity of mature females ranging in length from 20.1 to 50.5 cm ranges from 4205 to 60,976 eggs.

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