Description: Soft, roughly tadpole-shaped fish that grows up to 15 cm in size. The head is relatively large, blunt and rounded and the body is smooth, tapering to the tail. It has a single long dorsal fin and a similar anal fin, which should overlap with caudal fin in this species. Longitudinal stripes may be more common in this species, but certainly not all individuals have these. Colour is usually mainly a light brown to yellow, but colouration and markings can be variable as it usually depends on the habitat, they can be both almost uniform in colour or heavily patterned. There is a sucker on the underside which it uses to cling to rock or tough seaweed.

Habitat: Occasionally found under boulders, rocks or clinging to seaweeds on the lower shore, but more common subtidally, down to a reported 100 m.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Liparis montagui, which can be distinguished by looking at the dorsal and anal fins, which stop short of the caudal fin in Liparis montagui but overlap it in Liparis liparis. Could potentially also be confused with juvenile lumpsuckers but this should be unlikely.

Key Identification Features:

• Tadpole-shaped fish with relatively large blunt head.
• Single long dorsal fin and similar anal fin.
• Variable colouration, usually suited to habitat with base colour of light brown.
• Dorsal and anal fins overlap caudal fin.

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

iNaturalist: Liparis liparis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Liparis liparis

WoRMS: Liparis liparis at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Liparis liparis (Linnaeus, 1766). AphiaID: 127219.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Actinopteri; Teleostei; Perciformes; Cottoidei; Liparidae; Liparis