| Cottidae (Sculpins) |
| 7.73 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
benthopelagic; freshwater |
| North America: endemic to the Tallapoosa River drainage above the Fall Line in the east-central Alabama and west-central Georgia, USA. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 6-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-18; Anal soft rays: 10-14; Vertebrae: 29-32. Diagnosed from all congeners except Cottus chattahoochee by the combination of the following characters: modally eight infraorbital canal pores; five bones in the suborbital series; reduced palatine teeth; a flexible spine and four rays in the pelvic fin; preoperculomandibular canals not fused at anterior rami of mandibles, with two pores at tip of chin; pectoral rays simple; preopercular armature well-developed with two or three spines; chin not mottled; and dorsal fins separate. Differs from Cottus chattahoochee by having the following features: usually incomplete lateral line (vs. complete); dermal prickling reduced or absent, when present generally restricted to a few scattered prickles in area along anterior part of lateral line (vs. a robust postpectoral patch in addition to prickles along the anterior lateral line); and narrow to moderately wide saddles (vs. moderate or wide) (Ref. 72414). |
| Inhabits clean gravel or rocky bottomed streams with moderate to swift current. Frequently found in streams 3-15 m wide and at depths of 0.5-0.7 m (Ref. 72414). Feeds on anything alive which fits into its mouth (Ref. 72414). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 November 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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