Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) - Native

8 cm slimy sculpin in a tank.

A 3-inch adult slimy sculpin.

Identification. Margin of first dorsal fin normally clear, but turns bright red in spawning males. Incomplete lateral line ends under soft dorsal fin. Three pelvic fin rays. Mottled brown with dark blotches over entire body and fins. Belly and pectoral fins may have an orange tint. Spawning males become very dark.

8 cm slimy sculpin.

The slimy sculpin sports a frog-like head and large pectoral fins.

Size. Commonly 2 to 3 inches. State survey max. size 3.9 inches. Max. reported size 4.7 inches.

Distribution. Patchy distribution from eastern Siberia through most of Alaska, Canada and the Northern United States south to Virginia along the East Coast. The slimy sculpin has a fragmented distribution in Connecticut and is limited to coldwater streams, primarily in the northern part of the state. Most populations are located in the upper Housatonic and Farmington River watersheds, where they range from uncommon to common in abundance.

Slimy sculpin distribution map.

All maps created in 2009. See CT DEEP Fish Community Data for updated distributions.

Habits. Prefer clear, coldwater streams with gravel to cobble substrate and moderate to fast flows. They stay on the bottom, often under cover. Can be captured with small-mesh dip net or seine.

Slimy sculpin in an aquarium.

Slimy sculpins are extremely well-camouflaged when lying in the gravel substrate of streams.

Comments. Although locally common, slimy sculpins are not often seen because of their small size and excellent camouflage. Sculpins are sensitive to environmental degradation, requiring good-quality, coldwater streams to survive. Some populations are restricted to extremely limited areas of streams. In a few cases where the coldwater source is from a single spring, a whole population may be confined to no more than a couple hundred yards of stream.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.