Seasonal Distribution of Antlered Sculpin, Enophrys diceraus (Cottidae) in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The antlered sculpin Enophrys diceraus in Peter the Great Bay is found to inhabit from shallow waters to depths deeper than 600 m. The range of depth where this species occurs is the narrowest, from 12 to 250 m deep, in summer. The greatest depths of inhabitation are characteristic, in all seasons, only of adult fish of this species. In the cold period of the year, the young probably avoid the upper part of the shelf where the temperatures have cooled down to negative numbers. Spawning in the antlered sculpin begins in the second half of November. Females dominate the population of this species inhabiting Peter the Great Bay. Males reach 38 cm long and more; females can be up to 31 cm long. The greatest density of antlered sculpin in the summer period on the preferred substrates is observed in the western part of the bay, primarily on sandy ground.