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Index of Subjects Hello: I could be wrong but my understanding is that sculpin spines are not toxic or venomous. They are simply spines. If we get jabbed by them we run the risk of infection but that is simply from the spine carrying grit and typical bacteria on fish. We are not envenomated as, for example stinging insects, or biting spiders. So toxicity is not an issue. Many birds swallow spiny fish (e.g., brown bullheads, yellow perch, etc.) without suffering. The spines fold down along the line of the fish and it cannot raise them. Which is why the fish are swallowed head first. Having said that, some spiny fish (e.g., catfish) can physically lock their spines (pectoral and dorsal) out which would be problematic for a predator. With respect to number of sculpin - in Nova Scotia we have no freshwater species and Scott and Scott (Atlantic fishes of Canada) tell me there are 16 species of sculpin (Cottidae) in Atlantic Canada. If you saw the bird feeding in shallow water my money would be on shorthorn sculpin, longhorn sculpin, or grubby. Hope this helps. Sean Sean C. Mitchell, PhD. Executive Director St. Mary's River Association Box 179, Sherbrooke, NS B0J 3C0 ph.(902) 522-2099 fax (902) 522-2241 ________________________________ From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca on behalf of Hans Toom Sent: Thu 18/02/2010 12:57 PM To: Naturens@Chebucto.Ns.Ca Subject: [NatureNS] Black Guillemot vs Sculpin Species? I was watching a Black Guillemot fishing by the wharf at Sambro Harbour and it came up with what looked like a sculpin species. There are apparently about 756 species of sculpin and the numbers keep growing. Some or all have toxic spines so to see the guillemot swallow it whole and head first is interesting. The bird did not appear to kill the fish before swallowing. So if this is really a sculpin how does the guillemot protect itself from the toxic spines. Hans http://www.hanstoom.com/Highlights/February2010/0125.html _________________________________ Hans Toom Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada Website: http://hanstoom.com <http://hanstoom.com/> _________________________________
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