ECOS Guide to the Ecology of the Northern Rockies

Name: Cottus bairdi - Mottled Sculpin

Family: Cottidae (Sculpins)

Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpion Fishes and Sculpins)

Class: Osteichthyes (Bony Fishes)

Abundance: Patchy

Origin: Native.

Active Season: Year Round

Size:

average: 3in
largest: 5in

Colors: red-orange (dorsal fin), yellow (upper side), green (upper side), red-brown (upper side), black (upper side), white-gray (underside)

General Description: Mottled sculpins are small, cryptically colored fish with large heads and pectoral fins relative to their body size. Mottled sculpins, like other freshwater sculpins in Montana, prefer fast-flowing and rocky river and stream habitats.

Similar Species: It is usually quite difficult for expert fisheries ecologists to identify sculpins, unless a good dichotimous key is used. There are four species of sculpins in Montana. If you catch a sculpin East of the Continental Divide, it is most likely a mottled sculpin. Please note, however, there are spoonhead sculpins in the Waterton and St. Mary's drainages on the East side of Glacier National Park.

Life History:

Distribution: Mottle Sculpins are widely distributed throughout the United States, but are not found in the central states. In Montana, mottled sculpins are widely distributed and common in mountain streams east of the continental divide. They also have limited distribution in the Columbia River and Saskatchewan River drainages.

Habitat Description:Mottled sculpins live in cold and clear mountain streams east of the continental divide. They are common in fast-flowing habitats.

Feeding Habits: Mottled sculpins feed primarily on benthic invertebrates, especially insect larvae.

Enemies & Diseases: Because golden trout live at high elevation sites, predation is primarily by man, but ospreys, herons, minks, or other fish predators would certainly eat golden trout where their ranges overlap.

Did You Know: Mottled sculpins, like all freshwater sculpins use their fins like wings so the current will push them towards the substrate and allow them to hold their position, even in rapid currents. Hanging out on the substrate allows sculpins to forage on benthic invertebrates, which comprise 99.7% of thier diet. This means that mottled sculpins (and other species of sculpins) are very specifically adapted to use only benthic habitats. Mottled Sculpins are the most widely distributed of all North American sculpin species and there are several sub-species that make up the group of mottled sculpins. Watch for garter snakes eating sculpins in mountain streams during the summer time!

Glossary:

Benthic Invertebrates: Aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans and larval insects that inhabit the bottom of a stream or lake.
Cryptically Colored: Has body markings and colorations that camoflauge an organism and make it difficult to see.
Pectoral Fins: The front-most paired fins found on fishes. Usually found just behind the gills.
Substrate: Rocks, sand, woody debris, leaves, silt, or any other material that makes up the bottom of a stream.

Keywords:

References:

Brown, Luther. 2005 (Reprinted from 1982). The Mottle Sculpin (Cottus bardii). Reprinted with permission from Delta Tale: The official publication of Potomac Valley Aquarium Society, April 1982, Vol. IV, Issue 4.
http://www.nanfa.org/articles/acmottledsculpin.shtml.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Animal Field Guide. Mottled Sculpin. http://fwp.mt.gov/fieldguide/detail_AFC4E02050.aspx

Contributor:

Allison Greene


Home Plant Guide Insect Guide Bird Guide Mammal Guide Geology Guide Fish Guide Fish by Name Fish by Family Fish by Order Glossary of Fish Terms Amphibian Guide Reptile Guide Habitats Descriptions Maps Contributors ECOS Home		Physical Characteristics - General Description - Similar Species - Life History - Distribution - Habitat - Feeding Habits - Did You Know - Glossary - References Name: Cottus bairdi - Mottled Sculpin Family: Cottidae (Sculpins) Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpion Fishes and Sculpins) Class: Osteichthyes (Bony Fishes) Abundance: Patchy Origin: Native. Active Season: Year Round Size: average: 3in largest: 5in Colors: red-orange (dorsal fin), yellow (upper side), green (upper side), red-brown (upper side), black (upper side), white-gray (underside) General Description: Mottled sculpins are small, cryptically colored fish with large heads and pectoral fins relative to their body size. Mottled sculpins, like other freshwater sculpins in Montana, prefer fast-flowing and rocky river and stream habitats. Similar Species: It is usually quite difficult for expert fisheries ecologists to identify sculpins, unless a good dichotimous key is used. There are four species of sculpins in Montana. If you catch a sculpin East of the Continental Divide, it is most likely a mottled sculpin. Please note, however, there are spoonhead sculpins in the Waterton and St. Mary's drainages on the East side of Glacier National Park. Life History: Distribution: Mottle Sculpins are widely distributed throughout the United States, but are not found in the central states. In Montana, mottled sculpins are widely distributed and common in mountain streams east of the continental divide. They also have limited distribution in the Columbia River and Saskatchewan River drainages. Habitat Description:Mottled sculpins live in cold and clear mountain streams east of the continental divide. They are common in fast-flowing habitats. Feeding Habits: Mottled sculpins feed primarily on benthic invertebrates, especially insect larvae. Enemies & Diseases: Because golden trout live at high elevation sites, predation is primarily by man, but ospreys, herons, minks, or other fish predators would certainly eat golden trout where their ranges overlap. Did You Know: Mottled sculpins, like all freshwater sculpins use their fins like wings so the current will push them towards the substrate and allow them to hold their position, even in rapid currents. Hanging out on the substrate allows sculpins to forage on benthic invertebrates, which comprise 99.7% of thier diet. This means that mottled sculpins (and other species of sculpins) are very specifically adapted to use only benthic habitats. Mottled Sculpins are the most widely distributed of all North American sculpin species and there are several sub-species that make up the group of mottled sculpins. Watch for garter snakes eating sculpins in mountain streams during the summer time! Glossary: Benthic Invertebrates: Aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans and larval insects that inhabit the bottom of a stream or lake. Cryptically Colored: Has body markings and colorations that camoflauge an organism and make it difficult to see. Pectoral Fins: The front-most paired fins found on fishes. Usually found just behind the gills. Substrate: Rocks, sand, woody debris, leaves, silt, or any other material that makes up the bottom of a stream. Keywords: References: Brown, Luther. 2005 (Reprinted from 1982). The Mottle Sculpin (Cottus bardii). Reprinted with permission from Delta Tale: The official publication of Potomac Valley Aquarium Society, April 1982, Vol. IV, Issue 4. http://www.nanfa.org/articles/acmottledsculpin.shtml. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Animal Field Guide. Mottled Sculpin. http://fwp.mt.gov/fieldguide/detail_AFC4E02050.aspx Contributor: Allison Greene