Identification
The northern rockling closely resembles the five-bearded rockling but lives in deeper water. The body is elongated and eel-like, 12 to 20 cm, brown to yellowish-brown. Also has five barbels. Distinguished from the five-bearded rockling by subtle anatomical differences in the gill arches.
Ecology
Lives at greater depths than the five-bearded rockling, typically 20 to 200 meters, on rocky and mixed substrates. Feeds on small crustaceans and worms.
In the Netherlands
The northern rockling is extremely rare in Dutch waters. More typical of cold waters in the northern North Sea and along the Norwegian coast.
