Marbled sculpin

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The marbled sculpin (Cottus klamathensis) is a species of sculpin found in the Klamath and Pit River drainages in northern California and southern Oregon. Three subspecies have been identified: the upper Klamath marbled sculpin (C.k. klamathensis), which occurs in the Klamath River watershed above Klamath Falls; the lower Klamath marbled sculpin (C.k. polyporus), which occurs in the Klamath River watershed downstream of Iron Gate Dam; and the bigeye marbled sculpin (C.k. macrops), which inhabits the Pit River Watershed. However, genetic analysis performed in 2012 indicated minimal difference between individuals from each of these three regions. [1]

Contents

Description

Marbled sculpin
Etna Creek Marbled Sculpin 240803.jpg
Lower Klamath marbled sculpin observed in a Scott River tributary. Photo by Harrison Morrow.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Cottidae
Genus: Cottus
Species:
C. klamathensis
Binomial name
Cottus klamathensis

Marbled sculpin, like other sculpin species, have a large, flat head and large, fan-like pectoral fins. They have a striking mottled coloration with patches of black and various shades of brown. In Inland Fishes of California (2002), Peter Moyle describes their physical characteristics as follows:

“Marbled sculpins can be distinguished by the following suite of characteristics: 7-8 dorsal fin spines, broadly joined dorsal fins, incomplete lateral line with 15-28 pores, smooth skin (except for a small patch of prickles in some populations), 2 chin pores, absent palatine teeth, and only 1 well-developed preopercular spine (although one or two inconspicuous protruberances [sic] may be present below it) (1). In addition they have a wide head, with widely separated eyes, a blunt snout, a maxillary bone that does not reach the posterior edge of the eye, and usually no conspicuous dark patch on the rear portion of the first dorsal, although a band may run across most of the fin. There are 7-8 spines in the first dorsal fin, 18-22 rays in the second dorsal fin, 13-15 anal fin rays, 14-16 pectoral fin rays, and 11-12 principal rays in the caudal fin. The pelvic fins have four “elements” and may or may not reach the vent when depressed. Prickling may be well developed on young fish but is confined to a small region behind the pectoral fins in adults or is absent. The pectoral fins often appear checkered, with alternating dark and light spots on the rays.” [2]

The lower Klamath marbled sculpin can be distinguished from the other subspecies by the number of lateral line pores. C.k. polyporus possess 22-28 pores, while C.k. klamathensis and C.k. macrops have 15-22. The bigeye marbled sculpin is unique in its having very few or completely lacking axillary prickles. The upper Klamath marbled sculpin, in addition to being the only of the three to have significant amounts of axillary prickles and 15-22 lateral line pores, also has a shorter head and postorbital length relative to its “consubspecifics”. [3] C.k. macrops are also generally darker and less strikingly marbled than the Klamath River subspecies. [2]

Bigeye marbled sculpin individuals over 110 mm in length have been found, although it is uncommon for them to exceed 80 mm. [2]

Distribution

HUC8 watershed-level range map of the three marbled sculpin subspecies. Made by Harrison Morrow using ESRI ArcGIS Pro, based on data from Moyle (2002). Marbled Sculpin Range.jpg
HUC8 watershed-level range map of the three marbled sculpin subspecies. Made by Harrison Morrow using ESRI ArcGIS Pro, based on data from Moyle (2002).

Moyle states that the lower Klamath marbled sculpin occurs in the mainstem Klamath River and its tributaries from the Trinity River confluence up to Iron Gate Dam, and that the upper Klamath marbled sculpin inhabits the watershed upstream of Klamath Falls. [2] However, it is likely that this species has also been present in tributaries to the Klamath River between Iron Gate Dam and Klamath Falls. With the removal of four Klamath dams in 2024, populations downstream of the Iron Gate Dam site will now be connected to further upstream populations for the first time since 1918. [4] Surveys of the Lost River watershed in the upper Klamath basin found marbled sculpin to only be occupying a few small headwater streams. [2] Bigeye marbled sculpin are found in the lower Pit River watershed, including tributaries such as Hat Creek, Burney Creek and the Fall River. [5]

Habitat Preference

Bigeye marbled sculpin prefer run or pool habitat, with fine substrate capable of supporting aquatic plants. [3] They are often found in deeper areas of a habitat next to cover features such as aquatic vegetation. [6] A study of the thermal tolerances of the three species found that C.k. macrops preferred temperatures ranging from 11.1 to 14.7°C, and extended exposure to temperatures above 25°C was shown to be lethal. [7] Regarding C.k. klamathensis, a study of habitat use in Oregon streams found these marbled sculpins to be most abundant in streams where summer temperatures ranged from 15-20°C, substrates were coarse, and channel widths were greater than 10 meters. [8] Much less is known about the lower Klamath marbled sculpin’s habitat use, although they are regularly found in deep, constructed pool habitats in tributaries to the Scott River. [9]

Overlap with Other Sculpin Species

Marbled sculpin in the Pit River watershed coexist with Pit sculpin (Cottus pitensis) and rough sculpin (Cottus asperrimus). Upper Klamath marbled sculpin are one of three sculpin species in the upper Klamath region, which also includes slender sculpin (Cottus tenuis) and Klamath Lake sculpin (Cottus princeps). In addition to C.k. polyporus, the lower Klamath River hosts prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) and coastrange sculpin (Cottus aleuticus), although the lower Klamath marbled sculpin may only exist further upstream than these other two species. Moyle postulates that C.k. polyporus moved into the lower river after geohydrologic shifts in the Pleistocene caused increased spill over from Upper Klamath Lake and the eventual carving of a permanent channel connecting to the Klamath River. [2]

Biology

Bigeye marbled sculpin mature sexually after around two years, and spawning takes place in February and March. Females produce 139-650 eggs, which are deposited as adhesive clusters under flat rocks alongside embryos from other females. Males guard these nests, which have been found to include 826-2,200 embryos. [5]

At the time of emergence, larvae range from 6-8 mm in total length. They average 39 mm (standard length) at the end of their first year, then 55 mm, 62 mm, 70 mm, and 79 mm at the end of each successive year, respectively. Around five years appears to be the maximum lifespan. [5]

There is little information in the literature regarding diets and feeding behavior of marbled sculpin. Other sculpin species present in the region primarily feed on aquatic insect larvae and amphipods. [2] [10] [11] Sculpins have a reputation for consuming salmon and trout eggs following spawning events, but there is little evidence for this behavior in the sculpins of inland northern California outside of an experimental setting. [2] [12]

Conservation Status

There is no data available on marbled sculpin population trends. Moyle speculates that marbled sculpin populations in both the Pit and Klamath basins have been negatively impacted by anthropogenic activities such as agricultural diversions and runoff, grazing of riparian areas, introduction of invasive piscivores, etc. [2] The International Union for the Conservation of Nature conducted a status review on marbled sculpin in 2011 and deemed the species’ conservation need to be of “Least Concern”. [13] However, this report also lacks any real data on the abundance of this species.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slimy sculpin</span> Species of fish

The slimy sculpin is a freshwater species of fish belonging to the family Cottidae, which is the largest sculpin family. They usually inhabit cold rocky streams or lakes across North America, ranging from the Great Lakes, southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, southwest Wisconsin and northeast Canada. Slimy sculpins have also been found roaming the cold streams of eastern Siberia. They are commonly confused with their closely related relatives, Mottled sculpin, and with tubenose gobies who are both freshwater fishes as well. The slimy sculpin is a nocturnal fish that usually spends most of its time on the stream bottom and seeks shelter under rocks and logs, especially during spawning season. When it swims, it sometimes appears to be "hopping" along the bottom because of its inefficient ability to swim. This is partly due to the absence of a swim bladder, which normally gives buoyancy to a fish.

<i>Cottus</i> (fish) Genus of fishes

Cottus is a genus of the mainly freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. They are often referred to as the "freshwater sculpins", as they are the principal genus of sculpins to be found in fresh water. They are native to the Palearctic and Nearctic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mottled sculpin</span> Species of fish

The mottled sculpin is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species has a wide but scattered North American distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemitripterinae</span> Family of fishes

The Hemitripterinae is a subfamily of the scorpaeniform family Agonidae, known as sea ravens or sailfin sculpins. They are bottom-dwelling fish that feed on small invertebrates, found in the northwest Atlantic and north Pacific Oceans. They are covered in small spines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific staghorn sculpin</span> Species of fish

The Pacific staghorn sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Lepidocottus.

Cryothenia amphitreta is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. It is found in the Antarctic Ross Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flame chub</span> Species of fish

The flame chub is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae found only in the United States. Its range broadly follows the Tennessee River from above Knoxville, Tennessee, to the mouth of the Duck River. Historically the species was found in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. The preferred habitat of flame chub is in small flowing streams often associated with springs.

The lavender sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The hairhead sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Trichocottus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastrange sculpin</span> Species of fish

The Coastrange sculpin is a freshwater sculpin of the genus Cottus. They are commonly found near the ocean in western North America, namely Canada and the United States. It is also known as the Aleutian sculpin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prickly sculpin</span> Species of fish

The prickly sculpin is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is native to the river drainages of the Pacific Slope of North America from Seward, Alaska south to the Ventura River of Southern California. It extends east of the Continental Divide in the Peace River of British Columbia. It has also been introduced to several reservoirs in Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Ridge sculpin</span> Species of fish

The Blue Ridge sculpin 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.

Cryothenia is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. They are native to the Southern Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potomac sculpin</span> Species of fish

The Potomac sculpin is a freshwater species of sculpin that lives in West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

The shorthead sculpin is a species of fish in the family Cottidae. Shorthead Sculpins are bottom-dwelling small fish, typically sizing around 13 to 15 cm long. They have large heads and fanlike pectoral fins. They have 7-9 dorsal spines, 15-19 dorsal soft rays, and 10-14 anal soft rays. Narrow caudal peduncle. Palatine teeth and coloration being dark brown and yellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inland riffle sculpin</span> Species of fish

The inland riffle sculpin is a species of fish in the family Cottidae. It is found in the United States, inhabiting the lower Columbia River drainage in Washington, to Morro Bay in California. It is also found in the Puget Sound drainage in Washington. It reaches a maximum length of 11.0 cm. It prefers rocky riffles of headwaters and creeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Etheostomatinae</span> Subfamily of fishes

Etheostomatinae is a species-rich subfamily of freshwater ray-finned fish, the members of which are commonly known as the darters. The subfamily is part of the family Percidae which also includes the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. The family is endemic to North America. It consists of three to five different genera and well over 200 species. A common name for these fish in southern Indiana is pollywog.

<i>Cottus cyclophthalmus</i> Species of fish

Cottus cyclophthalmus is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in northeastern Europe, in the Neman River and Venta River drainages in the basin of the Baltic Sea. This species is similar to the European bullhead but is distinguished by uts round, protruding and tubular eyes set close to the front of head; papillae in the skin on the top and sides of the head, a scale-less body without any bony prickles and a complete sensory canal on the flanks which has 32–36 pores. It is classified within the subgenus Cottus and the specific name cyclophthalmus is a compound of cyclos, meaning "round", and ophthalmus, which mean "eye", an allusion to the round, tubular eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal riffle sculpin</span> Species of fish

The Coastal Riffle Sculpin is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is endemic to the Coast Range Mountains of California, where it is found in streams draining to the west and southwest. This taxon was considered to be conspecific with the inland riffle sculpin until research published in 2020 by Peter B. Moyle and Matthew A. Campbell showed that it was a separate valid species which was split into two subspecies. One, C.o. pomo, found in the northern Russian River and north San Francisco Bay drainage; and the other, C.o. ohlone, in the southern Santa Clara Valley. The specific name honors the Ohlone people, a Native American group which lived around southern San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley.The Ohlone name refers to a group of over 50 people who interacted in these areas. It is not listed with a conservation status under the Endangered Species Act.

References

  1. ↑ Baumsteiger, Jason; Kinziger, Andrew P.; Aguilar, Andres (2012-12-01). "Life history and biogeographic diversification of an endemic western North American freshwater fish clade using a comparative species tree approach". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 65 (3): 940–952. Bibcode:2012MolPE..65..940B. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2012.08.015. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   22982759.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Moyle, Peter B. (2002-12-31). Inland Fishes of California. University of California Press. doi:10.1525/9780520926516. ISBN   978-0-520-92651-6.
  3. 1 2 Daniels, Robert A.; Moyle, Peter B. (1984-12-18). "Geographic Variation and a Taxonomic Reappraisal of the Marbled Sculpin, Cottus klamathensis". Copeia. 1984 (4): 949. doi:10.2307/1445339. ISSN   0045-8511. JSTOR   1445339.
  4. ↑ "Klamath River dams fully removed ahead of schedule". Governor of California. 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  5. 1 2 3 Daniels, Robert A. (June 1987). "Comparative life histories and microhabitat use in three sympatric sculpins (Cottidae:Cottus) in northeastern California". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 19 (2): 93–110. Bibcode:1987EnvBF..19...93D. doi:10.1007/bf00001880. ISSN   0378-1909.
  6. ↑ Brown, Larry R. (1991-08-01). "Differences in Habitat Choice and Behavior among Three Species of Sculpin (Cottus) in Artificial Stream Channels". Copeia. 1991 (3): 810–819. doi:10.2307/1446408. ISSN   0045-8511. JSTOR   1446408.
  7. ↑ Brown, Larry R. (November 1989). "Temperature preferences and oxygen consumption of three species of sculpin (Cottus) from the Pit River drainage, California". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 26 (3): 223–236. Bibcode:1989EnvBF..26..223B. doi:10.1007/bf00004818. ISSN   0378-1909.
  8. ↑ Hughes, Robert M.; Rexstad, Eric; Bond, Carl E. (1987-05-13). "The Relationship of Aquatic Ecoregions, River Basins and Physiographic Provinces to the Ichthyogeographic Regions of Oregon". Copeia. 1987 (2): 423. doi:10.2307/1445780. ISSN   0045-8511. JSTOR   1445780.
  9. ↑ Scott River Watershed Council (May 5, 2024). "Scott River Watershed Council Juvenile Fish Sampling Report 2023-2024 Season" (PDF).
  10. ↑ Li, Hiram; Moyle, Peter (August 1976). "FEEDING ECOLOGY OF THE PIT SCULPIN, COTTUS PITENSIS, IN ASH CREEK, CALIFORNIA". Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. 75 (2): 111–118.
  11. ↑ Daniels, Robert A.; Moyle, Peter B. (1978-12-28). "Biology, Distribution and Status of Cottus asperrimus in the Pit River Drainage, Northeastern California". Copeia. 1978 (4): 673. doi:10.2307/1443695. ISSN   0045-8511. JSTOR   1443695.
  12. ↑ Phillips, Robert W.; Claire, Errol W. (April 1966). "Intragravel Movement of the Reticulate Sculpin, Cottus perplexus and Its Potential as a Predator on Salmonid Embryos". Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 95 (2): 210–212. doi:10.1577/1548-8659(1966)95[210:imotrs]2.0.co;2. ISSN   0002-8487.
  13. ↑ IUCN (2011-11-10). Cottus klamathensis: NatureServe: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T202664A15363204 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2013-1.rlts.t202664a15363204.en. accessed on 07 november 2024 (inactive 2024-11-08).{{cite report}}: Check |doi= value (help)CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)


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