| Status | LE |
|---|---|
| Status system | ESA |
| Taxon | Cottus specus |
| Authority | G. L. Adams & Burr, 2013 |
The grotto sculpin (Cottus specus) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins.[1] It is found in the United States where it only inhabits the Bois Brule drainage (although not recorded from the main stream itself) in Perry County of southeastern Missouri.[2] It reaches a maximum standard length of 10.3 cm (4.1 in).[1] This cavefish lives in underground streams and their resurgences.[1] It was formerly confused with the more widespread C. carolinae, but can be separated by (among others) its smaller eyes and various degrees of reduced pigmentation.[1][2] It is one of only three known cases of troglomorphism in the sculpin family, the others also involving U.S. Cottus (C. bairdi—cognatus species complex in Pennsylvania, and C. carolinae in West Virginia).[2]
References
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- ^ Adams, G.L.; B.M. Burr; J.L. Day; D.E. Starkey (2013). "Cottus specus, a new troglomorphic species of sculpin (Cottidae) from southeastern Missouri". Zootaxa. 3609 (5): 484–494. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3609.5.4. PMID 24699612. S2CID 11491879