Japanese Warbonnet

Chirolophis japonicus is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the family Stichaeidae, commonly known as pricklebacks or warbonnets. It is distributed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, including the Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, Sea of Japan, Okhotsk Sea, and Bering Sea.

This species inhabits shallow rocky reef environments, where it uses its slender body and distinctive fringed head projections for camouflage. It is an omnivorous benthic fish that feeds on small fish, algae, and benthic invertebrates, and typically reaches sexual maturity at around two years of age.