Biodiversity & Conservation

Butterfish - Pholis gunnellus - Taxonomy and identification

Pholis gunnellus

Image Robert Keen - Pholis gunnellus at Scapa Flow, Orkneys.
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Distribution map

Pholis gunnellus recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Pholis gunnellus?
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Pholis gunnellus is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy identification

Dictionary Icon Taxon Dictionary icon Latin English equivalent or translation
Phylum Chordata - Sea squirts, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals
Class Actinopterygii - Sea squirts, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals
Order Perciformes
Family Pholidae
Genus Pholis
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms: (since 1950) None

Key Icon Identifying features

  • Eel-like, laterally compressed body.
  • Small head with almost upward looking eyes.
  • Black stripe through eye.
  • Thick fleshy lips.
  • Short, stout spines forming one long dorsal fin.
  • Minute spiny pelvic fins.
  • Scales minute and embedded.
  • Very slimy skin.
  • Row of approximately 12 conspicuous white-ringed black spots on back, along base of dorsal fin.

Additional information icon Additional information

Pholis gunnellus is related to Chirolophis ascani (Yarell's blenny) and together these belong to a group called the Arctic blennies (Dipper, 2001). The butterfish is unusual in that both parents may take turns to guard the eggs. The name 'butterfish' derives from the slimy skin of this fish.

This review can be cited as follows:

Judith Oakley 2008. Pholis gunnellus. Butterfish. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 11/09/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/taxonomyidentification.php?speciesID=4105>