Prickly sculpin (Cottus asper)

Scientific name: Cottus asper Richardson, 1836

Prickly sculpin (Cottus asper)

The Prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) is a freshwater fish of the family Cottidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-23; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 19; Vertebrae: 34 - 39. Distinguished by a complete lateral line, a single pore at the tip of the chin, the presence of 15 to 19 anal rays, and well developed palatine teeth. Pectorals large and fan-shaped; caudal truncate or slightly rounded. Dark brown, olive or gray above and on sides, whitish yellow to white below; usually three dark irregular blotches or bars below soft dorsal; vague irregular dark mark on sides; fins (except anal) have dark bars, the first dorsal with a dark spot towards the rear. Both sexes show an orange band on the edge of the first dorsal fin at spawning time. The inland form is generally more densely prickled over a larger portion of the body while the coastal form shows a reduced number of prickles.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cottus asper
Family
Cottidae (Sculpins)
Order
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
30.0
Common length
7.0
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
North America: Pacific slope drainages from Seward, Alaska to Ventura River, California, USA; also east of Continental Divide in upper Peace River in British Columbia, Canada. Exhibits coastal and inland forms that are genetically distinct.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Aquarium: public aquariums; bait: occasionally
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=7; Fec=280)

More other freshwater fish

See all other freshwater fish

Sources

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

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