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Coastrange Sculpin, Cottus aleuticus


		Appearance and Identification: · Small fish: usually less than 14 cm TL , capable of 17 cm TL · Large head, slender body and caudal peduncle, complete lateral line · Prickles behind pectoral fin only · Pelvic fins reach the vent when flattened, pair of posterior nostrils, single chin pore · Dark mottled coloring with white belly, 2 or 3 dark bands below and behind 2^nd dorsal · Rear edge of 1^st dorsal fin lacks dark spot · Adults have barred fins · Breeding males have long genital papillae, orange spot on caudal peduncle, and orange band on first dorsal fin · Pre-opercular spine (1) and 5-7 gill rakers · Fin spines/rays: pelvic 1 spine/4 rays, 1^st dorsal 8-10 weak spines, 2^nd dorsal 17-20 rays, pectoral 13-16 rays · Lateral line scales: 34-44 (complete)


Life History:
		Coastrange sculpins are usually found in coastal streams within 20 km of the estuary or ocean, though the coastrange sculpin has been found living over 120 km upstream. Coastrange sculpins primarily inhabit swift water in rocky or cobbled streams and they require areas with adequate cover for protection. Water temperatures are usually less than 20-22ºC. These fish often share their territory with prickly sculpin, threespine sticklebacks, and anadromous salmonids. Coastrange sculpins feed mostly at night on insects and bottom dwelling invertebrates like clams and snails. Adults may eat other small fish and amphibians. In areas of salmonid spawning the sculpin may feed on stray eggs. The juvenile fish concentrate on the larval stages of mayflies, caddisflies and the like, while the older fish may eat the nymphs of such organisms. Adult coastrange sculpins may reach sexual maturity in 2 – 3 years and are believed to live up to 8 years. Most spawning occurs in an estuarine environment from January to March, though breeding may occur farther upstream and later in the year. Females lay 100-1,764 eggs per year, using the underside of rocks to hide their deposits. When the coastrange sculpin eggs hatch most of the larvae are swept downstream into an estuary, lagoon, or deeper river pool. The larvae take on a planktonic form for 3-5 weeks before settling to the bottom of a stream. From there the juvenile fish will grow and move progressively upstream. Generally speaking the younger fish live downstream of the older and larger fish.
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	Here's a list of California watersheds where Coastrange Sculpin may be found. © 2003 - Regents of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Communication Services E-Mail Web Master ANR Non-Discrimination Statement