- Source: Liparis tunicatus
Liparis tunicatus, or the kelp snailfish, is a species of snailfish from the genus Liparis. It can be found in marine, demersal waters at a depth range from 0 to 620 m (0–2,034 ft). The kelp snailfish lives in the Arctic and Northwest Atlantic Ocean among kelp. The species is common, at least around Greenland and Franz Josef Land. A bottom feeder, it eats small crustaceans. At Franz Josef Land, it spawns in March at a depth of 6–25 m (20–82 ft), with the egg clusters attached to kelp.
The kelp snailfish is among the northernmost living species in its family, together with species like Liparis bathyarcticus and L. fabricii.
Description
The fish grows to a maximum total length of about 16.5 cm (6.5 in). It has small dark spots and can have pale stripes. Liparis tunicatus has a small gill opening. It is sometimes confused with juveniles of the related L. gibbus.