Cottus bairdii Girard, 1850
Mottled sculpin
Cottus bairdii
photo by N. Burkhead & R. Jenkins, courtesy of VDGIF

Family:  Cottidae (Sculpins)
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 2 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; depth range - 16 m
Distribution:  North America: widespread with highly disjunct distribution in Canada and USA. The former Blue Ridge race of the Atlantic slope of the Appalachian Mountains is now recognized as a distinct species Cottus caeruleomentum.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults occur in rubble and gravel riffles, less often in sand-gravel runs of headwaters, creeks and small rivers. Also found in springs and their effluents and rocky shores of lakes (Ref. 1998, 10294). Feed mainly on aquatic insect larvae, but also on crustaceans, annelids, fishes, fish eggs, and plant material (Ref. 1998, 10294). Spawn in the spring (Ref. 1998). A male guards the cluster of eggs laid by different females (Ref. 1998). Neither anterolateral glandular groove nor venom gland is present (Ref. 57406).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 November 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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