Cyclopterus

Cyclopterus is a genus of marine fish in the family Cyclopteridae, commonly known as lumpsuckers. It is a monotypic genus, containing the extant species Cyclopterus lumpus, the lumpsucker or lumpfish, which is native to cold northern Atlantic waters.

The fish have a rounded, globular body with soft, nearly scaleless skin. A distinctive feature is the ventral suction disc formed by modified pelvic fins, used to cling to rocks, algae, and other substrates. Dorsal and anal fins are small, and the tail is usually truncated. This body plan enables the species to maintain position in currents and in crevices along the coast.

Cyclopterus lumpus is found in cold temperate and subarctic waters of the North Atlantic, including the coasts of Greenland, Iceland, eastern Canada, and northern Europe. They inhabit coastal, rocky, and rubble areas, often in relatively shallow water where attachment to the substrate is possible. They are generally not strong swimmers and rely on their suction disc for stability.

In terms of behavior and life cycle, lumpsuckers are slow swimmers. Reproduction occurs in winter to spring: males guard nests laid by females on seaweed, stones, or crevices until the eggs hatch. Juveniles disperse as they grow, and individuals continue to inhabit shallow coastal zones or offshore habitats as they mature.

Humans interact with Cyclopterus lumpus through fisheries, as the roe is processed into lumpfish caviar in some markets, and the species is also used as a cleaner fish in aquaculture to help control sea lice on farmed salmon. Some populations are subject to commercial fishing pressures.