Clinocottus
| Clinocottus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Clinocottus embryum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Suborder: | Cottoidei |
| Family: | Psychrolutidae |
| Genus: | Clinocottus Gill, 1861 |
| Type species | |
| Oligocottus analis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Clinocottus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. They are nearshore benthic fishes native to the northeastern Pacific Ocean. They are mentioned as sharpnose sculpins.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]Clinocottus was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1861 by the American zoologist Theodore Gill with Oligocottus analis, which had been described in 1858 by Charles Frédéric Girard from Monterey, California, as its only species.[1][3] Molecular data indicate that this genus is polyphyletic or paraphyletic, it does not constitute a natural assemblage within Cottidae.[4] Workers have found that the lavender sculpin (Leiocottus hirundo) is the sister taxon to C. analis, a species which is not closely related to C. acuticeps. In turn, C. acuticeps is determined to be basal to Artedius,[5] or to the clade referred to as Oligocottinae.[6] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Clinocottus within the subfamily Cottinae of the family Cottidae,[7] however, other authors classify the genus within the subfamily Oligocottinae of the family Psychrolutidae.[1]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]Clinocottus combines Clinus a genus of blennies with Cottus, probably because Girard though the rounded head of the mosshead sculpin was reminiscent of the ehad shape of some gobies and blennies.[8]
Species
[edit | edit source]There are currently five recognized species in this genus:[9]
- Clinocottus acuticeps (C. H. Gilbert, 1896) (Sharpnose sculpin)
- Clinocottus analis (Girard, 1858) (Woolly sculpin)
- Clinocottus embryum (D. S. Jordan & Starks, 1895) (Calico sculpin)
- Clinocottus globiceps (Girard, 1858) (Mosshead sculpin)
- Clinocottus recalvus (Greeley, 1899) (Bald sculpin)
Characteristics
[edit | edit source]Clinocottus sculpins are characterised by having the anus in a forward position between the anal fin and the pelvic fins, they have a heavy and blunt penis and in both sexes the anal fin is unmodified. C. analis and C. acuticeps have pointed heads, which is regarded as a basal feature and the remaining 3 species have sizeable, rounded heads. This is suggestive of the paraphyly of the group.[6] These are small sculpins, the largest species is the mosshead sculpin with a maximum published total length of 19 cm (7.5 in) and the smallest is the calico sculpin with a maximum published total length of 7 cm (2.8 in).[9]
Distribution
[edit | edit source]Clinocottus sculpins are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where they are found in the intertidal zone.[9][5]
References
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- ^ Clinocottus Gill, 1861 ITIS
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