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]
| Clinocottus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Clinocottus embryum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Cottidae |
| Subfamily: | Cottinae |
| Genus: | Clinocottus Gill, 1861 |
| Type species | |
| Oligocottus analis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Taxonomy
editClinocottus 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
editClinocottus 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
editThere 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
editClinocottus 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
editClinocottus sculpins are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where they are found in the intertidal zone.[9][5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Oligocottinae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Clinocottus Gill, 1861 ITIS
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Clinocottus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Thaddaeus J. Buser; J. Andrés López (2015). "Molecular phylogenetics of sculpins of the subfamily Oligocottinae (Cottidae)]". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 86: 64–74. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.03.006. PMID 25791911.
- ^ a b Marina L. Ramon; Matthew L. Knope (2008). "Molecular support for marine sculpin (Cottidae; Oligocottinae) diversification during the transition from the subtidal to intertidal habitat in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 46 (2): 475–483. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.11.005. PMID 18248743.
- ^ a b Matthew L. Knope (2013). "Phylogenetics of the marine sculpins (Teleostei: Cottidae) of the North American Pacific Coast". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 66 (1): 341–349. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2012.10.008. PMID 23099148.
- ^ J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 467–495. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (22 October 2022). "Order Perciformes: Suborder Cottoidea: Infraorder Cottales: Family Cottidae (Sculpins)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Clinocottus". FishBase. August 2022 version.