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Cottus asper Richardson, 1836
Prickly Sculpin
Family: Cottidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

© Mike Pearson     (Photo ID #78312)

Map


Distribution of Cottus asper in British Columbia.
Source: Distribution map provided by Don McPhail for E-Fauna BC

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 23; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 19; Vertebrae: 34 - 39. Distinguished by a complete lateral line, a single pore at the tip of the chin, the presence of 15 to 19 anal rays, and well developed palatine teeth (Ref. 27547). Pectorals large and fan-shaped; caudal truncate or slightly rounded (Ref. 27547). Dark brown, olive or gray above and on sides, whitish yellow to white below; usually three dark irregular blotches or bars below soft dorsal; vague irregular dark mark on sides; fins (except anal) have dark bars, the first dorsal with a dark spot towards the rear (Ref. 27547). Both sexes show an orange band on the edge of the first dorsal fin at spawning time (Ref. 27547). The inland form is generally more densely prickled over a larger portion of the body while the coastal form shows a reduced number of prickles (Ref. 28211).

Source: FishBase. Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr 1991 A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.

Biology

Species Biology

There appears to be two genetically distinct forms (Ref. 27547), an inland form found in sandy and rocky shores of lakes, and a coastal form usually found over sand in quiet runs of small to medium rivers; sometimes in salt water near river mouths (Ref. 2850). The coastal form moves into brackish estuaries to spawn (Ref. 27547). Oviparous with demersal, adhesive eggs and pelagic larvae (Ref. 265). Feed mainly on aquatic insect larvae and bottom invertebrates (Ref. 1998).

Source: FishBase. Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr 1991 A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.

Distribution

BC Distribution and Notes

There are two morphological forms of the prickly sculpin in B.C., and a number of life history types. There is a coastal and an interior form that, morphologically, are slightly different. Additionally, preliminary mtDNA data suggest a modest divergence between the two forms. Presumably the coastal form dispersed into B.C. through the sea — many coastal populations are catadromous — while the interior entered from the unglaciated portions of the Columbia system (a pattern common to other species; e.g., chinook salmon, rainbow trout). In catadromous populations, adults migrate downstream and spawn in estuaries. The larvae spend at least a year in the estuary before migrating upstream. Obviously, the interior form doesn’t migrate to the sea. The biology of the interior form has never been studied and there may be significant life history difference between the two forms.

Source: Information provided by Don McPhail for E-Fauna BC.
Global Distribution

North America: Pacific slope drainages from Seward, Alaska to Ventura River, California, USA; also east of Continental Divide in upper Peace River in British Columbia, Canada. Exhibits coastal and inland forms that are genetically distinct (Ref. 27547).

Source: FishBase. Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr 1991 A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
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Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeS5YellowNot Listed



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