Taurulus bubalis (Euphrasen, 1786)

Long-spined Sea Scorpion

Taurulus bubalis

Description: This is a relatively small sea scorpion which reaches a maximum length of 17.5cm. It has a distinctive barbel at the corners of the mouth and a long spine in front of the gill cover. The lateral line is spiny but there are no spines either side of it. The colour is very variable and changes to camouflage with the surroundings. It is often red with pink mottling when living on rock covered in pink coralline algae and greenish-brown when living amongst brown seaweed.

Habitat: The long-spined sea scorpion is common in rockpools and beneath seaweed on the low shore and also sublittorally amongst seaweed covered rock down to 30m depth. It feeds on small bottom-living fish and crustaceans.

Distribution: The long-spined sea scorpion is common all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: This species is sometimes confused with the bull rout (Myoxocephalus scorpius) but can easily be distinguished by the presence of a barbel at the corners of the mouth. The Norway bullhead (Taurulus lilljeborgi) is very similar but tends to occur in deeper water (below 20m) and is confined to the coasts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the Norway bullhead there is a row of spines on the skin above the lateral line.

Key Identification Features:

• Stout body and broad head
• Scaleless, spiny skin
• Mottled coloration, usually well camouflaged
• Barbel at corners of mouth
• Long spine in front of gill cover

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database