Knobfin sculpin (Cottus immaculatus)

Scientific name: Cottus immaculatus Kinziger & Wood, 2010

The Knobfin sculpin (Cottus immaculatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cottidae. Native range: North America, Current, Eleven Point, Spring and White river systems of the White River drainage in the Ozark Highlands of Missouri and Arkansas, USA.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-19; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Distinguished from all other congeners, except Cottus hypselurus and Cottus caeruleomentum, by the blue chin and belly on spawning males. Differs from Cottus hypselurus by dorsal fin spines 8-9 (versus 6-7); pectoral fin rays 16-17 (versus 13-15); pigmentation of the ventral surface of the peritoneum weak (versus moderate to strong ); dorsal-fin union moderate to wide versus slight to moderate. Can be differentiated from Cottus caeruleomentum by caudal base band notched (versus non-notched); dorsal fins moderately to widely connected (versus slightly connected); pectoral fin rays 16-17 (versus 12-15); ventral surface of peritoneum weakly pigmented (versus moderately to strongly pigmented).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cottus immaculatus
Family
Cottidae (Sculpins)
Order
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
9.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
North America: Current, Eleven Point, Spring and White river systems of the White River drainage in the Ozark Highlands of Missouri and Arkansas, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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