Rock Gunnel (Pholis gunnellus)
Rock Gunnel (Pholis gunnellus)
Common name: rock gunnel
Scientific name: Pholis gunnellus
Locations: shallow waters of the coast, under rocks in small puddles, in cracks and crevices
Seasonality: available all year
Color: brown with a row of 9 - 13 dark spots
Size: 5” - 8”
Collected: by hand
Quantity: sold by the each
Tidepool Tim says, “Rock gunnels look like little eels. We find them burrowed beneath rocks and seaweed, waiting for the tide to come back in. They are able to survive outside water because their slimy skin prevents them from drying out and allows them to slither into safe crevices. They can also breathe air, though they do best with access to water and seaweed."