scubaseason

Butterfish

Pholis gunnellus

Sighting evidence at Munkholmen Island, Trondheim Fjord

Butterfish are small intertidal eelblennies common in the shallow boulder zone at Munkholmen, identifiable by the row of white-ringed black spots along their dorsal fin. They shelter under stones and in kelp holdfasts, emerging to forage on amphipods and small invertebrates. Males guard egg masses attached to rocks during winter, making them approachable for macro photography in calm conditions.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Butterfish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.