fourspine sculpin; Cottus kazika
A freshwater sculpin native to Japan, often found in clear streams. The name literally means 'ayu-hanger', from a legend that it preys on ayu.
The fourspine sculpin is a freshwater fish that inhabits Japanese rivers.
The angler found a fourspine sculpin.
Standard katakana spelling for this fish name.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
The name アユカケ (ayukake) literally means 'ayu-hanger', from a folk belief that this fish hangs onto ayu (sweetfish). The exact historical derivation is uncertain.