E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Pholis ornata (Girard, 1854)
Saddleback Gunnel
Family: Pholidae
Photo of species

© Niall Williams  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #11606)

Source: Distribution of Pholis ornata as compiled by Aquamaps
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Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 74 - 79; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 35 - 38. Caudal rounded. Pelvic fins minute.

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Biology

Species Biology

Found in inshore areas, on mud bottoms among eelgrass and seaweed (Ref. 2850). Feeds on small mollusks and crustaceans (Ref. 2850). Both male and female guard egg mass (Ref. 2850). Environment: demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 56557). Climate: temperate; 51°N -

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Distribution

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: southern British Columbia to central California, USA. Authors giving range up to northwestern Pacific classify Pholis nea Peden & Hughes, 1984 as a synonym of Pholis ornata.

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)
COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNot Listed
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References


Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2026-03-08 10:06:47 AM]
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