| Family: |
Cottidae (Sculpins) |
| Max. size: |
18 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 10 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; pH range: 7 - 7.5; dH range: 10; depth range 2 - 2 m, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
Europe: North Baltic in Scandinavia south to stream Maurine in southwesternmost of corner of Baltic basin (Germany); lower reaches of streams and rivers and along coast of Sweden, Finland, Russia southwest to Estonia; Danube (except upper tributaries Save and Arges), Elbe, Ems, Weser and Rhône drainages; tributaries of upper Rhine downriver (northward) to about Mannheim; a few of uppermost tributaries of River Tevere, central Italy; Adriatic drainages from Potenza in Italy to Zrmanja in Croatia, except Timavo spring. Locally introduced in Scheldt drainage in Belgium. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 6-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-18; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-13; Vertebrae: 31-34. Caudal fin with 13 to 14 rays (Ref. 40476). |
| Biology: |
Occurs in cold, clear and fast-flowing water of small stream to medium-sized rivers as well as on gravel or rocky shores of cold lakes and in slightly brackish waters along eastern coast of Baltic coast (Ref. 59043). Feeds on small bottom invertebrates, mainly insects, crustaceans. Pink to yellow eggs are found in clumps attached to undersides of large stones (Ref. 41678). Contrary to statements in older literature, eggs and larvae of fishes are not a common food item (Ref. 45167). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 March 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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