Fish
Five-bearded Rockling
Ciliata mustela
In the shade under a boulder in a rock pool, a five-bearded rockling feels its way along the stones with the whiskers on its chin and snout.
Overview
The five-bearded rockling, Ciliata mustela, is a Least Concern cod relative of rock pools and rocky shores from Iceland and Norway to the Mediterranean. Its barbels, dark slimy body, and small size make it a typical fish of the shore.
A small cousin of the cod
Although it lives in pools rather than the open sea, the rockling shares the cod family’s chin barbel and its habit of feeling its way over the bottom in search of food.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Five-bearded Rockling: common questions
Why is it called the five-bearded rockling?
It has five fleshy barbels around its mouth, one under the chin and two pairs on the snout.
Is the rockling related to the cod?
Yes, it is a member of the cod family, though it is a small fish, usually only 10 to 25 cm long.
Where do rocklings live?
It lives in rock pools and under stones and boulders on the lower shore, hiding in crevices during the day.
Where is the five-bearded rockling found?
It lives on rocky shores of the north-eastern Atlantic, from Iceland and Norway to the Mediterranean.