Cottus caeruleomentum: taxon details and analytics
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Cottidae
- Genus
- Cottus
- Species
- Cottus caeruleomentum
- Scientific Name
- Cottus caeruleomentum
Summary description from Wikipedia:
Blue Ridge sculpin
The Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) is a species of sculpin in the family Cottidae. It is native to the eastern United States, where it can be found in a number of river systems that drain into the Atlantic.
This fish is variable in morphology. It is up to about 6.3 centimetres (2.5 in) long. In general, the species has dark saddle marks and an incomplete lateral line. There are small spines on the preoperculum and small prickles in the postpectoral area. The breeding male, at least in some regions, has blue to blue-green coloration on the chin, the mouth, the bases of some of the fins, and the membrane connecting the bones around the gills. The fish is very similar to its close relative, Cottus bairdi, particularly the subspecies C. b. bairdi. The latter has notches in the band marking the base of the tail; C. caeruleomentum lacks the notches on one or both sides. C. bairdi lacks the blue breeding coloration; its chin is blackish. The two fish occur together and are known to hybridize.
This fish is native to the states of Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. It can be found in the Elk, Susquehanna, Bush, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Nanticoke, James, and Roanoke river drainages. The species is common in upland habitat, and less common in lowlands. It lives in creeks, springs, and riffles. In coastal areas it is only found in cold streams.
The diet is made up of invertebrates.
The parasite load of this species has been investigated. The nematode Rhabdochona cotti lives in its intestine. Another nematode was found there and subsequently described as a new species named Freitascapillaria laticauda. It can be over a centimeter long.
...Cottus caeruleomentum in languages:
- Czech
- vranka modrolemá
- English
- Blue Ridge Sculpin
- Russian
- Подкаменщик синий
Images from inaturalist.org observations:
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Parent Taxon
Sibling Taxa
- Cottus aleuticus
- Cottus altaicus
- Cottus amblystomopsis
- Cottus asper
- Cottus asperrimus
- Cottus aturi
- Cottus baileyi
- Cottus bairdii
- Cottus beldingii
- Cottus bendirei
- Cottus caeruleomentum
- Cottus carolinae
- Cottus chattahoochee
- Cottus cognatus
- Cottus confusus
- Cottus cyclophthalmus
- Cottus czerskii
- Cottus duranii
- Cottus dzungaricus
- Cottus echinatus
- Cottus extensus
- Cottus ferrugineus
- Cottus girardi
- Cottus gobio
- Cottus gratzianowi
- Cottus greenei
- Cottus gulosus
- Cottus haemusi
- Cottus hangiongensis
- Cottus hispaniolensis
- Cottus hubbsi
- Cottus hypselurus
- Cottus immaculatus
- Cottus jaxartensis
- Cottus kanawhae
- Cottus klamathensis
- Cottus kolymensis
- Cottus koreanus
- Cottus koshewnikowi
- Cottus kuznetzovi
- Cottus leiopomus
- Cottus marginatus
- Cottus metae
- Cottus microstomus
- Cottus nozawae
- Cottus ohlone
- Cottus paulus
- Cottus perifretum
- Cottus perplexus
- Cottus petiti
- Cottus philonips
- Cottus pitensis
- Cottus poecilopus
- Cottus pollux
- Cottus princeps
- Cottus punctulatus
- Cottus reinii
- Cottus rhenanus
- Cottus rhotheus
- Cottus ricei
- Cottus rondeleti
- Cottus sabaudicus
- Cottus schitsuumsh
- Cottus semiscaber
- Cottus sibiricus
- Cottus specus
- Cottus spinulosus
- Cottus szanaga
- Cottus tallapoosae
- Cottus tenuis
- Cottus transsilvaniae
- Cottus tubulatus
- Cottus volki































































































































































