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Perciformes/Cottoidei (Sculpins) >
Cottidae (Sculpins)
Etymology: Cottus: Greek, kottos = a fish (Ref. 45335); metae: Named in honor of Meta Povs, in appreciation for her continuous help with several projects.
Eponymy: Meta Povs was thanked for her “…continuous help with several projects.” We can find no biography. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Freyhof, Kottelat & Nolte.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate
Europe: Sava river system, from the headwaters in NW Slovenia to the Medvesčak Stream at Zagreb, Croatia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55856)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. Can be distinguished from other species of Cottus in the Adriatic basin and Danube drainage by the combination of the following characters; no distinct transverse bands on pelvic fin; prickling on body under pectoral fin, very rarely present shortly behind pectoral fin; depth of caudal peduncle 25-31% HL, 1.0-1.7 times in its length; body depth at origin of second dorsal fin 17-23% SL; interorbital distance 0.7-1.4 times in eye diameter; 15-16 1/2 rays in second dorsal fin; 12-13 1/2 anal-fin rays; last anal-fin ray connected to body by a membrane along 1/3-1/2 of its length; no membrane attaching pelvic-fin base to body; membrane of first dorsal fin usually not reaching origin of second dorsal fin in females; dorsal head length 21-25% SL; predorsal length 35-40% SL; distance from tip to snout to origin of second dorsal fin 54-59% SL (Ref. 55856).
Inhabits small streams to medium-sized rivers. Attains first sexual maturity at 2-4 years. Spawns in March-April (Ref. 59043).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Freyhof, J., M. Kottelat and A. Nolte, 2005. Taxonomic diversity of European Cottus with description of eight new species (Teleostei: Cottidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 16(2):107-172. (Ref. 55856)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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