Description: Our smallest rockling that can reach up to 20 cm, but is more commonly around 15 cm. It has five barbels on its face. This species also has frilly skin lobes protruding from its upper lip, which is one key feature that distinguishes it from Ciliata mustela, the only other rockling here that has five chin barbels. It is usually a coppery pink-brown to yellow in colour and quick to retreat when approached, making it a difficult species to photograph or record.

Habitat: Has been recorded in a range of habitats, from wrecks to muddy sediment; and from depths of around 10 m to 100 m.

Distribution: Most records are from offshore but there are a few scattered inshore records from around Britain and Ireland, possibly under-recorded.

Similar Species: Could be confused with other rocklings, especially Ciliata mustela, which also has five barbels, but it is never coppery-coloured. The other species of rocklings have 3 or 4 barbels.

Key Identification Features:

• Coppery pink-brown to yellow in colour.
• Five barbels.
• Frilly skin lobes protruding from upper lip.

Distribution Map from NBN: Ciliata septentrionalis at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Ciliata septentrionalis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Ciliata septentrionalis

WoRMS: Ciliata septentrionalis at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Ciliata septentrionalis (Collett, 1875). AphiaID: 126449.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Actinopteri; Teleostei; Gadiformes; Lotidae; Ciliata