• Norwegian: rognkjeks/rognkall

Characteristics:

The lumpsucker earned the name from its ability to cling to any smooth surface. It has a sucking disk formed by two united ventral fins. The female often comes in a green coloration, while the male is usually brown with a tint of red. During spawning it often take a vivid orange or red color. The skin is scale less. It has several vertical rows of clearly visible spines.

Habitat:

Adult lumpsuckers usually live on depths between 50 and 200 meters. In the spring they migrate towards the surface to spawn among algae in the subtidal zone. The male is assigned the task of protecting the eggs. There is a significant commercial interest in these eggs as they are sold as false caviar.

Distribution:

It is widespread on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean, north of Portugal in the east and Maryland in the west. It is well known along the entire coast of Norway.