Neha Patil (Editor)

Bear Lake sculpin

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Order
  
Scorpaeniformes

Genus
  
Cottus

Higher classification
  
Cottus

Found in
  
Bear Lake

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Cottidae

Scientific name
  
Cottus extensus

Rank
  
Species


Similar
  
Sculpin, Cottus, Bear Lake whitefish, Shoshone sculpin, Bonneville cisco

The Bear Lake sculpin, Cottus extensus, occasionally referred to incorrectly as a "bullhead", is a species of freshwater sculpin endemic to Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border. It is one of only four sculpins native to Utah, and the only extant lake-dwelling sculpin in Utah (see Utah Lake sculpin). Although the fish is only native to Bear Lake, it has been introduced and established in Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

The Bear Lake sculpin is a benthic fish and feeds on invertebrates. It is an important forage species for the native Bear Lake strain of Bonneville cutthroat trout and the nonnative Lake trout in Bear lake.

The species spawns between the months of April and May among rocks close to shore, and is listed as a Wildlife Species of Concern by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

References

Bear Lake sculpin Wikipedia