Fivebeard rockling
(Ciliata mustela)
General data
The fivebeard rockling (Ciliata mustela) is a coastal ray-finned fish of the family Lotidae, the lings and rocklings.
It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is not a fish of any commercial importance.
The fivebeard rocklings is a long, slender fish which may attain a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in).
It has a smooth, scaleless body with unusual and long dorsal, which is made up of a first ray followed by a line of vibrating rays in a furrow in the back. The front part of the dorsal fin does not have any membrane connecting the rays although the rear dorsal fin is which runs the length of the body, as does the anal fin, is made up of rays connected by membrane.
It has five barbels around its mouth, two above either nostril and a single barbel on the lower jaw. It has a rather small mouth with the corners of the mouth just going beyond the eye. The main colour is dark brown. This fades to pale gray-brown on the underside.
The fivebeard rockling is found in the eastern Atlantic from Finnmark to Lisbon, including the Skagerrak, the Kattegat, Iceland and around Great Britain and Ireland.
