Kingdom Animalia Order Scorpaeniformes Genus Cottus Higher classification Cottus | Phylum Chordata Family Cottidae Scientific name Cottus echinatus Rank Species | |
Similar Cottus, Bear Lake sculpin, Sculpin, Cottus beldingii, Shoshone sculpin | ||
The Utah Lake sculpin, Cottus echinatus, was a species of freshwater sculpin endemic to Utah Lake, located in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Utah. The last collected specimen was taken in 1928, and the species is believed to have disappeared during the 1930s, when a severe drought led to a rapid fall in water levels in the lake. A cold winter led to the lake freezing, resulting in the overcrowding of the remaining fish. This, along with decreased water quality from agricultural practices, has been identified as the likely cause of extinction.
The Utah Lake sculpin was a benthic species (bottom dwelling), invertebrates constituting its major source of food. It was one of two lake-dwelling sculpins native to Utah, the other being the Bear Lake sculpin.