05-16-2004, 10:51 PM
[size 4]Mottled Sculpin
Cottus bairdi
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[/url] Habitat: This fish prefers cool, clear, swift mountain streams and rivers (Sigler and Miller 1973). Sculpin are often found under rocks and in the rubble of stream bottoms. However, in portions of the Gunnison, Colorado and Yampa river mainstems where sculpin are taken, waters are often turbid and slow while summer temperatures exceed 80'F. Normally, cobble bottom appears to be a habitat pre- requisite. Sculpin are not usually found in stream reaches where the interstitial spaces between the rocks of the cobble bottom have filled with silt, mud or other material. Erosion and discharges resulting from human activities can cause sedimentation which could eliminate sculpin from a particular river reach.
Description: Head broad and flat, preopercle with three spines; one, large, sharp spine located at angle; two spines below are smaller and covered by skin; eyes on upper side of head; body depth and width towards the head about equal; toward the tail, body strongly compressed laterally; pectoral fins exceedingly large; dorsal fins joined but separated by deep notch.Color is orange-tan, brown, to darker red-brown, mottled with darker spots. All but the pelvic fins are marked with pigment spots. Breeding males have a dark band on dorsal fin.Adults average from 3-5 inches in length. One specimen from the San Miguel River was greater than 7 inches in length.
Range in Colorado: In Colorado, the mottled sculpin is restricted to the western slope in the San Juan, Animas, Yampa, White, Colorado and Dolores river drainages. In the Gunnison River, the species extends upstream only to about the area of the North Fork confluence (Wiltzius 1978). Ellis (1914) reported sculpin were found in the head- waters of the Arkansas River. No other collections of sculpin have been reported from the Arkansas drainage since that time, indicating the initial report from the Arkansas may have been erroneous.[/size] Habitat: This fish prefers cool, clear, swift mountain streams and rivers (Sigler and Miller 1973). Sculpin are often found under rocks and in the rubble of stream bottoms. However, in portions of the Gunnison, Colorado and Yampa river mainstems where sculpin are taken, waters are often turbid and slow while summer temperatures exceed 80'F. Normally, cobble bottom appears to be a habitat pre- requisite. Sculpin are not usually found in stream reaches where the interstitial spaces between the rocks of the cobble bottom have filled with silt, mud or other material. Erosion and discharges resulting from human activities can cause sedimentation which could eliminate sculpin from a particular river reach.
Description: Head broad and flat, preopercle with three spines; one, large, sharp spine located at angle; two spines below are smaller and covered by skin; eyes on upper side of head; body depth and width towards the head about equal; toward the tail, body strongly compressed laterally; pectoral fins exceedingly large; dorsal fins joined but separated by deep notch.Color is orange-tan, brown, to darker red-brown, mottled with darker spots. All but the pelvic fins are marked with pigment spots. Breeding males have a dark band on dorsal fin.Adults average from 3-5 inches in length. One specimen from the San Miguel River was greater than 7 inches in length.
Range in Colorado: In Colorado, the mottled sculpin is restricted to the western slope in the San Juan, Animas, Yampa, White, Colorado and Dolores river drainages. In the Gunnison River, the species extends upstream only to about the area of the North Fork confluence (Wiltzius 1978). Ellis (1914) reported sculpin were found in the head- waters of the Arkansas River. No other collections of sculpin have been reported from the Arkansas drainage since that time, indicating the initial report from the Arkansas may have been erroneous.
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Cottus bairdi
[url "javascript:alert('This photograph may be used for non-commercial purposes. Please give credit to the photographer.')"]
[/url] Habitat: This fish prefers cool, clear, swift mountain streams and rivers (Sigler and Miller 1973). Sculpin are often found under rocks and in the rubble of stream bottoms. However, in portions of the Gunnison, Colorado and Yampa river mainstems where sculpin are taken, waters are often turbid and slow while summer temperatures exceed 80'F. Normally, cobble bottom appears to be a habitat pre- requisite. Sculpin are not usually found in stream reaches where the interstitial spaces between the rocks of the cobble bottom have filled with silt, mud or other material. Erosion and discharges resulting from human activities can cause sedimentation which could eliminate sculpin from a particular river reach.Description: Head broad and flat, preopercle with three spines; one, large, sharp spine located at angle; two spines below are smaller and covered by skin; eyes on upper side of head; body depth and width towards the head about equal; toward the tail, body strongly compressed laterally; pectoral fins exceedingly large; dorsal fins joined but separated by deep notch.Color is orange-tan, brown, to darker red-brown, mottled with darker spots. All but the pelvic fins are marked with pigment spots. Breeding males have a dark band on dorsal fin.Adults average from 3-5 inches in length. One specimen from the San Miguel River was greater than 7 inches in length.
Range in Colorado: In Colorado, the mottled sculpin is restricted to the western slope in the San Juan, Animas, Yampa, White, Colorado and Dolores river drainages. In the Gunnison River, the species extends upstream only to about the area of the North Fork confluence (Wiltzius 1978). Ellis (1914) reported sculpin were found in the head- waters of the Arkansas River. No other collections of sculpin have been reported from the Arkansas drainage since that time, indicating the initial report from the Arkansas may have been erroneous.[/size] Habitat: This fish prefers cool, clear, swift mountain streams and rivers (Sigler and Miller 1973). Sculpin are often found under rocks and in the rubble of stream bottoms. However, in portions of the Gunnison, Colorado and Yampa river mainstems where sculpin are taken, waters are often turbid and slow while summer temperatures exceed 80'F. Normally, cobble bottom appears to be a habitat pre- requisite. Sculpin are not usually found in stream reaches where the interstitial spaces between the rocks of the cobble bottom have filled with silt, mud or other material. Erosion and discharges resulting from human activities can cause sedimentation which could eliminate sculpin from a particular river reach.
Description: Head broad and flat, preopercle with three spines; one, large, sharp spine located at angle; two spines below are smaller and covered by skin; eyes on upper side of head; body depth and width towards the head about equal; toward the tail, body strongly compressed laterally; pectoral fins exceedingly large; dorsal fins joined but separated by deep notch.Color is orange-tan, brown, to darker red-brown, mottled with darker spots. All but the pelvic fins are marked with pigment spots. Breeding males have a dark band on dorsal fin.Adults average from 3-5 inches in length. One specimen from the San Miguel River was greater than 7 inches in length.
Range in Colorado: In Colorado, the mottled sculpin is restricted to the western slope in the San Juan, Animas, Yampa, White, Colorado and Dolores river drainages. In the Gunnison River, the species extends upstream only to about the area of the North Fork confluence (Wiltzius 1978). Ellis (1914) reported sculpin were found in the head- waters of the Arkansas River. No other collections of sculpin have been reported from the Arkansas drainage since that time, indicating the initial report from the Arkansas may have been erroneous.
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