Species: Cottus aleuticus
Coastrange Sculpin
Species
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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Scorpaeniformes
Family
Cottidae
Genus
Cottus
NatureServe
Classification
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Fishes - Bony Fishes - Other Bony Fishes
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Actinopterygii - Scorpaeniformes - Cottidae - Cottus - (Lee et al. 1980). Formerly included in the order Perciformes; the 1991 AFS checklist (Robins et al. 1991) followed Nelson (1984) in recognizing the order Scorpaeniformes as distinct from the Perciformes.
Ecology and Life History
Habitat Type Description
Freshwater
Migration
false - true - false - Some populations migrate downstream before spawning in the spring; yearlings and adults may migrate upstream in late summer to early winter (Morrow 1980).
Non-migrant
false
Locally Migrant
true
Food Comments
Feeds mainly on aquatic insect larvae and other benthic invertebrates (e.g., clams and snails). May also feed on salmon eggs and fry when available.
Reproduction Comments
Reaches maturity in 2nd or 3rd year. Usually spawns in spring. Fecundity varies with the size and age of female; it ranges from 100 to 1,764 eggs/female for females that measure 5 to 10 cm TL (Morrow 1980).
Ecology Comments
Predators include coho salmon and cutthroat trout.
Length
7
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-09-06
Global Status Last Changed
1996-09-06
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.BC=S5&US.AK=S5&US.CA=SNR&US.OR=S4&US.WA=S5" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
G - 200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles) - G - Range encompasses Pacific Slope drainages in North America from the Aleutian Islands (west to Kiska) and Bristol Bay, Alaska, to Oso Flaco Creek, Santa Barbara County, California (sporadic south of Monterey County), with an isolated population in the lower Kobuk River, Chukchi Sea drainage, Alaska (Moyle 2002, Page and Burr 2011). Range includes Vancouver, Queen Charlotte, and Kodiak islands. In most areas, these sculpins occur near the coast.
Global Range Code
G
Global Range Description
200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)