TN00039 MOTTLED SCULPIN COTTUS BAIRDI
| Species ID | TN00039 |
| Name | SCULPIN, MOTTLED |
| Other Common Names | |
| Category | 01 Fish |
| Elcode | |
| Phylum | CHORDATA |
| Subphylum | |
| Class | OSTEICHTHYES |
| Subclass | |
| Suborder | |
| Order | PERCIFORMES |
| Family | COTTIDAE |
| Genus | COTTUS |
| Species | BAIRDI |
| Subspecies | |
| Authority | GIRARD |
| Scientific Name | COTTUS BAIRDI |
Comments
This is a highly variable form that causes systematic problems *1115,2155*. Subspecies include: C. b. bairdi (Girard) *1440*, C. b. punctulatus (Gill) *2146*, C. b. kumlieui (Hoy) *1440* and C. b. semiscaber (Cope) *2589*. This species is also known as muddler *2589,1200*, and miller's thumb *2591*.
| Status Code | Status Translation | References |
| 000 | Unclassified | 835 |
| 999 | See Comments |
| County Name | Historical Occurrence | Resident Occurrence | General Occurrence | Seasonal Occurrence | Abundance |
| Absent Within Counties | Unknown Within Counties |
Hydrologic Unit Code References
| Quadrangle | Quadrangle Name |
Quadrangle Distribution References
| Ecoregion | Ecoregion Name |
Ecoregion Distribution References
| River Reach | River Reach Name |
River Reach References
Distribution General Comments
General Distribution References
Habitat(s): Aquatic
Comments on General Habitat
This species is found in cool, clear, moderate and high gradient creeks to small rivers. They are commonly found in stony shallows of lakes in the northern United States and Canada. In Virginia, it is often found with brook trout. Frequently it strongly populates streams with warm- water faunas. Large juveniles and adults generally occupy runs and riffles of gravel, rubble and boulder, occasionally plant beds. In pools, they are generally in well flowing parts. They seem to distribute themselves in streams according to substrate partical sze with the larger sculpins in rubble and the smaller ones in finer materials *4205*.
General Habitat References
| Forest Size Class Association |
Forest Size Class Association References
| Society of American Forester's Type Associations | Seral Stage | Canopy Closure |
References on SAF Type Association
| Land Use/Land Cover Associations |
| Streams and Canals |
| Water |
Land Use/Land Cover Association References
2150, 2146, 4205
| National Wetlands Inventory Associations | Class | Modifier | Special Modifier |
| Riverine, upper perennial | Streambed, cobble/gravel | Nontidal, permanent | fresh |
NWI Association References
2146, 835, 2591, 1239, 1200, 836, 2593, 2600, 2601, 1231
| Animal/Plant Associations |
Animal/Plant Association References
Habitat Evaluation Procedures Comments on HEP
HEP References
| Potential Natural Vegetation Associations |
PNV References
| USFS Associations |
USFS References
| Tennessee Habitat Associations | Habitat Value | Translation |
References on TENHAB Association
| Habitat Relationships | Special Habitat Relationships |
References on Habitat Relationships
Trophic| References | |
| Carnivore | 2147 |
| Lifestage | Food Item Consumed | Part of Food Item |
| General | Animals | Pupa stage |
| General | Animals | Larva stage |
| General | Animals | Adult stage |
| General | Insects | Pupa stage |
| General | Insects | Adult stage |
| General | Insects | Larva stage |
| General | Diptera | Pupa stage |
| General | Dermaptera | Larva stage |
| General | Dermaptera | Pupa stage |
| General | Ephemeroptera | Adult stage |
| General | Ephemeroptera | Larva stage |
| General | Trichoptera | Larva stage |
| General | Trichoptera | Pupa stage |
| General | Crustaceans | Adult stage |
| Juvenile | See Comments on Food Habits | See Comments |
| Juvenile | Ephemeroptera | Larva stage |
| Juvenile | Plecoptra | Larva stage |
| Juvenile | Bivalve Molluscs | Not Specified |
| Juvenile | Ostracods | Not Specified |
| Juvenile | COPEPODS | Not Specified |
| Adult | Diptera | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Dermaptera | Larva stage |
| Adult | Dermaptera | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Ephemeroptera | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Ephemeroptera | Larva stage |
| Adult | Trichoptera | Larva stage |
| Adult | Trichoptera | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Crustaceans | Adult stage |
| Adult | Insects | Larva stage |
| Adult | Ephemeroptera | Adult stage |
| Adult | Insects | Adult stage |
| Adult | Insects | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Animals | Larva stage |
| Adult | Animals | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Animals | Adult stage |
| Adult | See Comments on Food Habits | See Comments |
| Adult | Plecoptra | Larva stage |
| Adult | Bivalve Molluscs | Not Specified |
| Adult | Ostracods | Not Specified |
| Adult | COPEPODS | Not Specified |
| Adult | Snails | Not Specified |
| Adult | Osteichthyes | Egg/Fetus stage |
| Adult | Diptera | Larva stage |
| Adult | Coleoptera | Larva stage |
| Adult | Cypriniformes | Not Specified |
| Adult | Perciformes | Not Specified |
| Adult | Oligochaetes | Not Specified |
| Adult | Arachnids | Not Specified |
| Adult | Malacostraca | Not Specified |
| Adult | Odonata | Larva stage |
| Adult | Neuroptera | Not Specified |
| Adult | Hymenoptera | Not Specified |
| Adult | Hemiptera | Not Specified |
Comments on General Food Habits
his species is an insectivore in many waters but also takes isopod and amphipod crustaceans in many waters. It takes many invertebrates and rarely fishes *4205*.
Comments on Adult Food Habits
The adult diet is variable, although it prefers large aquatic insects, and is not an important predator on trout eggs *2146,2147,2149,2154,2143,2145*. They are bottom feeders *2146,2592,836,2598*.
Comments on Juvenile Food Habits
Juveniles consume mostly midge larvae *2146,2147,2149,2154,2143,2145*.
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| General | 2146, 835, 2589, 2591, 1239, 2592, 1200, 836, 2598, 2600, 1231 |
| Adult | 2147, 2149, 2154, 2143, 2146, 835, 2145, 2591, 1239, 2592, 1200, 836, 2598, 2600, 1231 |
| Juvenile | 2146, 2147, 2149, 2154, 2143, 2145 |
| Lifestage | Environmental Association |
| General | Dissolved Oxygen: Specified in Comments |
| General | Water pH: Specified in Comments |
| General | Density of Aquatic Vegetation: Moderate |
| General | Density of Aquatic Vegetation: High |
| General | Gradient: Low |
| General | Water pH: Specified in Comments |
| General | Salinity: Specified in Comments |
| General | Dissolved Oxygen: Moderate [5-7 mg/l] oxygen concentrations |
| General | Water pH: Between 6.5-8.5 |
| General | Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Unknown |
| General | Water Depth Preference: 1-5 ft. |
| General | Flow: Medium streams [50-1000 cfs mean annual flow] |
| General | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rubble |
| General | Aquatic Features: Riffles |
| General | Gradient: Moderate |
| General | Turbidity: Clear water |
| General | Flow: Small streams [5-50 cfs mean annual flow] |
| General | Substrate: Rocks |
| General | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rooted aquatic vegetation |
| General | Water Temperature: Between 15-21 degrees C |
| Breeding Adult | Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C |
Comments on General Environmental Associations
0 TN0014700030 - TOLERANT OF LOW OXYGEN *TN5177*
Comments on Limiting Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Adult Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Breeding Adult Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Feeding Adult Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Resting Adult Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Juvenile Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Feeding Juvenile Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Resting Juvenile Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Larval Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Feeding Larva Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Resting Larva Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Pupa Environmental Associations
0
Comments on Egg Environmental Associations
0
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| General | TN5072, TN5175, 4205 |
| Breeding Adult | 4205 |
Physical description: This sculpin has an unmottled chin, and the first dorsal fin is often blackened. They have an incomplete lateral line and usually 14-15 pectoral rays. The adults are usually from 50-80 mm SL and the body form is moderate to robust with the adult male particularly bull- headed. The snout is short and the eye is moderate. The dorsal and anal fin height are moderate to high and the dorsal fins are ususally slightly connected. The caudal fin is subtruncate or round and the dorsal spines and rays are moderate to thick. The palatine tooth patch is slightly to strongly, usually moderately developed. The first preopercular spine is usually moderate, the second one moderate to slight and the third moderate to usually absent. The prickling postpectorally is moderate to absent. The male genital papilla is very broad-based and the tip is broadly rounded or pointed not extending beyond the general margin. The lateral line has (15)20-25(27) pores. There are (6)7-8(9) dorsal rays with the last branched, (11)12-13(14) anal rays and 4 pelvic rays. There are (13)14-15(16) pectoral rays. The head and body dorsum and side have a tan or pale to medium olive ground shade , overlayed with dusky olive to olive-brown mottling and scrawling and, often russet reticulation. The small spots, when present, are olive-black. The saddle bands are olive-black to brown- black. The pale areas of the lower side are gold-olive to pale olive and the venter is off-white to pale gray. The iris is partly brassy. The first dorsal fin margin is creamy yellow-orange, pale orange or bright orange-red, often interrupted at intervals. The spines are tessellated rusty/pale olive or all olive except an orang tinge distally. The membranes below the edge are pale to black, tending olive basally. The second dorsal, caudal and pectoral ray tessellations are olive, usually russet, pink or tomato red/pale olive or yellow-olive, or all rays could be olive or reddish, the pectoral with the least reddish. The membranes are pale to dusky, often with reddish extending from the rays partly through the membranes. The anal and pelvic rays are tessellated gray/yellow-olive or white, or all white. The membranes are pale or dusky.The head, body, and fins of the nuptial male are darker, some with a dusky blue tint to the chin and belly. The russet on the body is often masked by dusky and the first dorsal margin is usually partly creamy, usually with the red component brighter, still always with a orange tint, and the color band less interrupted or complete in the largest males. The dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins have the russet remaining unmasked in some fish *4205*. Reproduction: Breed in the spring, exact dates vary, at water temp 9-16 degrees C *2146,835,1239,2592,2593,2596,2600,2602,1231,4205*. In Missouri, they spawn from early November to late February *1187*. In Michigan, they spawn from mid-March to the first of May *2284*. In Montana, they spawn in June *2146*. In the southern Appalachians they spawned into May and June in water from 5-16 degrees C *4205*. The eggs will incubate in approximately 20 days depending upon the water temperature. They usually spawn in water 5-16 degrees C *4205*. The eggs are deposited in a cluster of from 54-2874 eggs *4205*. The male and female mature at 2 years, 45-70 mm *2146,2602,1231 4205*. The male builds the nest in holes under rocks or other suitable objects defends the territory, and cares for the young *2146,835,1239,2592,2595,1187, 2146,2596,4205*. The male displays to the female include head shaking, head nodding and gill cover elevation *835,1200,2593*. The head and gill cover may turn dark *2593*. The female enters the nest and turns upsidedown while the male follows *2593,2595,2596*. The eggs adhere to the roof of the nest *2593, 2596,2600,1231*. Breeding success has been correlated to the size of the rock covering the nest *2595,2596*. They are polygamous, polygynous *2595,2596, 2597,2600,1231*. Behavior: The male defends the nest territory during the spawning and while the eggs and fry are still in it *2146,2595,2596,2600,1231,2150,2144*. The home range is less than 150 feet *2594*. Nests are constructed in rapidly moving waters with a gravel/rock bottom. The nests are usually formed under a large rock or boulder *2146,835,1239,2592,1200,2595,2596*. At 6.5 mm the young have a long marginal fin fold, large unrayed pectoral fins, and are almost colorless. At 7.2 mm the caudal rays are developing and the eyes are pigmented. At 10.0 mm the marginal fin fold from just behind the head rises slowly and evenly, the pectoral fins are fully rayed and the caudal fins are fully rayed. At 11.0 mm the young resemble adults in all but robustness and stoutness *2146,2238,2600*. The male defends the eggs and fry until the yolk sac has been absorbed *2146,2595,2596,2600,1231*. In Missouri, they are not mature until the 3rd or 4th summer *1187*. The adults feed by ambush *1187*. and in a Montana study, the greatest distance travelled by a sculpin was 470 feet *2146*. Origin: This species is native in Virginia *816*. Aquatic/terrestrial associations: This species is associated with the brook trout, S. fontinalis and the brown trout, S. trutta *835*. It is an important food source for other fishes *2589,1579,2599,1231*.
| Life History |
References for Life History Codes
2150, 2144, 2146, 2589, 2591, 1239, 2592, 1200, 836, 2593, 2594, 2595, 2596, 2597, 2238, 2598, 2599, 2600, 2602, 1231, 1187, 2284, 4205
Comments on Life History Codes
| Result | Management Action | ||
| Existing | Other management practices [specified in comments] |
| References/Result | Reference Numbers |
| Existing | 2149, 2143, 835 |
Comments on Management Practices
Early reports of heavy predation on trout eggs are not true. Dense populations may be important forage for stream game fishes and very little management is suggested for sculpins *835,2149,2143*.
835* Cooper, E.L. 1983. The Fishes of Pennsylvania. Penn. State Univ. Press, University Park. 836* Eddy, S., Underhill, J.C. 1974. Northern Fishes. Univ. Minn. Press, Minneapolis, Minn:414. 1187* Pflieger, W.L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Mo. Dept. Conserv.,:173. 1200* Becker, G.C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. The Univ. of Wisconsin Press, Madison:1052. 1231* Brown, C.J.D. 1971. Fishes of Montana. The Endowment and Research Foundation of Montana State Univ., Bozeman:207. 1239* Werner, R.G. 1980. Freshwater fishes of New York state. Syracuse Univ. Press, Syracuse:186. 2143* Ricker, W.E. 1934. An ecological classification of certain Ontario streams. Biol. Ser. 37. Ontario Fish. Res. Lab., Univ. Toronto, Toronto, Canada:114. 2144* Smith, B.G. 1923. Notes on the nesting habits of Cottus. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. Arts Ltrs. 2.:221-225. 2145* Turner, C.L. 1921. Notes on the food habits of young of Cottus ictalops (Miller's thumb). Ohio J. Sci. 22(3).:95-96. 2146* Bailey, J.E. 1952. Life history and ecology of the sculpin Cottus bairdi punctulatus in southwestern Montana. Copeia 1952(4).:243-255. 2147* Daiber, F.C. 1956. A comparative analysis of the winter feeding habits of two benthic stream fishes. Copeia 1956(3).:141-151. 2148* Girard, C.F. 1850. A monograph of the freshwater Cotti. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 2nd Meet. (1849).:409-411. 2149* Greeley, J.R. 1933. The spawning habits of brook, brown and rainbow trout, and the problem of egg predators. Trans. Amer. Fish Soc. 62(1932).:239-248. 2150* Hann, H.W. 1927. The history of the germ cells of Cottus bairdi Girard. J. Morphol. Physiol. 43.:427-497. 2154* Koster, W.J. 1937. The food of sculpins (Cottidae) in central New York. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 66(1936).:372-382. 2238* Fish, M.P. 1932. Contributions to the early life histories of sixty-two species of fishes from Lake Erie and its tributary waters. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 47(10).:293-398. 2284* Winn, H. 1958. Comparative reproductive behavior and ecology of 14 species of darters. Ecol. Monogr. 28.:155-191. 2539* Grzimek, B. 1972. Grzimek's animal life encyclopedia.. 2589* Scott, W.B. 1967. Freshwater fishes of eastern Canada. Univ. of Toronto Press,. 2591* Clay, W.M. 1962. A field manual of Kentucky fish. Kentucky Dep. Fish and Wildl. Resour., Frankfort:147. 2592* Koster, W.J. 1957. Guide to fishes of New Mexico. Univ. New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 2593* Savage, T. 1963. Reproductive behavior of the mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi Girard. Copeia 1963.:317-325. 2594* McCleave, J.D. 1964. Movements and populations of the mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi Girard) in a Montana stream. Copeia 1964.:506-513. 2595* Brown, L., Downhower, J.F. 1982. Polygamy in the mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi) of southwestern Montana (Pices: Cottidae). Can. J. Zool. 60.:1973-1980. 2596* Downhower, J.F., Brown, L. 1980. Mate preference of female mottled sculpins, Cottus bairdi. Anim. Behav. 28.:778-734. 2597* Ludwig, G.M., Lange, E.L. 1975. The relationship of length, age, age-length interaction to the fecundity of the northern mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi bairdi). Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.:64-67. 2598* Dineen. 1951. A comparative study of the food habits of Cottus bairdi and associated species of Salmonidae. Am. Mid. Nat. 46.:640-645. 2599* Moyle, P.B. 1977. In defense of sculpins. Fisheries 2.:20-23. 2600* Kowalski, K.T., etal. 1978. Interspecific and seasonal differences in the temperature tolerance of stream fish. J. Therm. Biol. 3.:105-108. 2601* Rohde, F.D., Arnat, R.G. 1981. Life history of a coastal plain population of the mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi (Osteichthyes: Cottidae). Brimleyana 7.:69-94. 2602* Patten, B.G. 1971. Spawning and fecundity of seven species of northwestern American Cottus. Am. Mid. Nat. 83.:493. 4205* Jenkins, R.E. 1984. Fishes of Virginia (tentative).. TN5072* Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.A. McAllister, and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. (editors). 1980 et seq. Atlas of North American Freshwater Fishes. N.C. State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC. TN5175* Werner, R.G. 1980. Freshwater fishes of New York state: a field guide. Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, NY 186p.