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


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