| Family: |
Cottidae (Sculpins) |
| Max. size: |
7.73 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
North America: endemic to the Tallapoosa River drainage above the Fall Line in the east-central Alabama and west-central Georgia, USA. |
| Diagnosis: |
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). |
| Biology: |
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). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 November 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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