NPSpecies

The data source confirming park status is over 10 years old. The park status value was chosen due to the lack of current evidence for the occurrence of this species in the park.; Data Source: Britt, 1993

Data Source: Britt, 1993

Park Species Detail: Britt, 1993: Cottus bairdi, mottled sculpin (resident, native)The mottled sculpin's distribution is discontinuous throughout North America, from the Savannah, Mobile and Tennessee River drainages in Georgia and Alabama, northward to Canada. Isolated populations are located in Montana, Arkansas, Utah and New Mexico. It inhabits clear, cold to warm streams (in rivers or pools) and lakes with sandy and gravel substrates. The mottled sculpin is a bottom dweller, spending much of its time motionless and moving in short quick dashes similar to darters. It has the ability to change its coloration to blend with its surroundings. Its diet consists primarily of larval and other aquatic insects and occasionally small fish. The average adult length is 61 mm to 92 mm inches. Spawning is thought to occur from early November to late February (based on data from the Ozarks). The eggs are deposited on the underside of stones in clusters up to 200. The male guards the nest until the eggs hatch. The incubation period is 3 to 4 weeks. Although once common in Rock Creek, mottled sculpin were collected only from the Maryland headwaters in 1974. The mottled sculpin is considered to be a pollution intolerant species. Dietemann, 1975: Collected from Maryland Headwaters in 1974. Once common in Rock Creek but pollution intolerant., Park Species Data Source: Dietemann, 1975; Britt, 1993