Atlantic Snailfish

Liparis atlanticus is a small tadpole-like fish with a soft, scaleless body and complex ventral sucker formed from heavily modified pelvic fins. It has a single dorsal fin which is clearly incised at the 5th or 6th ray and the fins have comparatively ferwer fin rays than its congeners. The overall color is brown, lightening on the flanks and pale on the ventral surface with some black spots on sensory pores and barring on the fins. This species reaches a maximum length of about 13 cm (5.1 in).

Liparis atlanticus are found in the coastal waters of the northwest Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Ungava Bay in Quebec to New Jersey. The Atlantic snailfish lives in intertidal zones and the immediately subtidal region to depths of 90 m (300 ft). In northern parts of its range, it is often found along the shoreline in seaweed beds.