On Exhibit
NOW OPEN: Scuttlebutt Reef
This animal is coming to the new Scuttlebutt Reef gallery opening in March 2026!
Lumpsuckers do not have scales like other bony fish. Instead, their bodies are covered in cone-shaped plates called tubercles.
With its round body, tiny fins, and lack of a swim bladder, the Lumpsucker isn’t really designed for swimming. Thanks to an unusual adaptation, however, this orb-shaped fish can thrive even in turbulent ocean waters. Over time, the Lumpsucker’s pelvic fins fused to form a large, surprisingly strong sucker disk. This allows the fish to anchor itself to rocks, kelp, and other surfaces.
