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Cottus chattahoochee Neely, Williams & Mayden, 2007 |
| Family: | Cottidae (Sculpins) | |||
| Max. size: | 8.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | North America: Chattahoochee River drainage above the Fall Line in Georgia, USA. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 6-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-18; Anal soft rays: 11-14; Vertebrae: 29-32. Diagnosed from all congeners except Cottus tallapoosae by the combination of the following characters: modally eight infraorbital canal pores; five bones in the suborbital series; reduced palatine teeth; a flexible spine and four rays in the pelvic fin; preoperculomandibular canals not fused at anterior rami of mandibles, with two pores at tip of chin; pectoral rays simple; preopercular armature well-developed with two or three spines; chin not mottled; and dorsal fins separate. Differs from Cottus tallapoosae on the basis of dermal prickling well-developed, consisting of a postpectoral patch and prickles on the area immediately adjacent to the anterodorsal part of the lateral line (vs. prickles absent or reduced); a complete lateral line (vs. usually incomplete); and moderate or wide saddles (vs. narrow or moderate) (Ref. 72414). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits small streams with gravel or cobble substrate (Ref. 72414). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 November 2011 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||