Kingdom Animalia Order Gadiformes Genus Ciliata Higher classification Ciliata | Phylum Chordata Family Lotidae Scientific name Ciliata mustela Rank Species | |
Similar Shore rockling, Three‑bearded rockling, Gaidropsarus, Taurulus bubalis, Trisopterus | ||
The fivebeard rockling (Ciliata mustela) is a coastal fish of the Lotidae family. Its body is elongated and up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long. It lives in shallow water on muddy and sandy seafloors, sometimes in the littoral zone. It is sometimes found by turning over rocks and debris on mudflats at low tide.
In colour it has a dark brown back, with a reddish or blackish underside merging with a pale gray-brown. Its "five beard" name comes from the short, fleshy barbels around its mouth.
The fivebeard rockling lives usually close to the shore, not normally deeper than 20 m (66 ft). It prefers a rocky bottom but can also be found on sandy, muddy or gravelly seafloors. It feeds mainly on crustaceans, sometimes also on algae, polychaetes, gastropods and occasionally, small fish. It is found in water temperatures between 8 and 24°C (46 and 75°F), on European Atlantic coasts.