How to Identify Ozark Sculpin

To identify Ozark Sculpin (Cottus hypselurus), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

Dorsally mottled with shades of brown, gray, and olive, often with darker saddles or blotches. Ventral surface is typically paler, whitish to light gray. This cryptic coloration provides excellent camouflage against rocky substrates.

Scale type

none

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

Large, fan-like pectoral fins, Absence of scales, skin is smooth or with scattered prickles, Broad, flattened head with large eyes, Two dorsal fins, the first spiny and the second soft-rayed, Preopercular spine typically short and blunt, often obscured by skin

Dorsal fin

Two dorsal fins; the first with 7-9 spines, the second with 16-19 soft rays. The two fins are typically separated or barely joined.

Tail fin

Caudal fin is rounded or slightly truncate, with 11-13 branched rays.

Pectoral fin

Large and fan-shaped, with 13-16 rays, extending well past the origin of the anal fin.

Distinctive fins

Pelvic fins are thoracic, with one spine and 3-4 soft rays, often with the first ray thickened.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Body Prickles

   Examine the skin for the presence and distribution of prickles. Ozark Sculpin typically has prickles covering the entire body, or at least the anterior dorsal and lateral surfaces, extending to the caudal peduncle. This distinguishes it from some other sculpin species that may have prickles only anteriorly or be entirely smooth.

2. 2

   Preopercular Spine

   Observe the preopercular spine. In Cottus hypselurus, it is usually short, blunt, and often embedded in skin, making it less prominent than in species like the Banded Sculpin (Cottus carolinae) where it is typically sharper and more exposed.

3. 3

   Pectoral Fin Ray Count

   Count the rays in the pectoral fin. Ozark Sculpin typically has 13-16 pectoral fin rays, a count that can help differentiate it from other regional sculpins.

4. 4

   Dorsal Fin Separation

   Note the separation between the first (spiny) and second (soft-rayed) dorsal fins. In C. hypselurus, these fins are typically separated or only barely joined at their bases, unlike some species where they are distinctly connected.

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