Image source: Paul G. | inaturalist.org
The Potomac sculpin (Cottus girardi) is a freshwater species of sculpin that lives in West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Potomac sculpin has a large head and mouth, with the eyes located on the upper part of the head. It has fan-like pectoral fins, and connected dorsal fins. It has twenty-six or fewer lateral-lines pores. In addition, it has four pelvic fins and fifteen pectoral fins. It has spots of coloration on its chin. The sculpin has an average length of 7.8 centimeters (3.1 in) and has been recorded with a length of up to 14 centimeters (5.5 in). It lives in James River drainage area in Virginia, as well as the Potomac River drainage system in Viriginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The sculpin lives in small to medium-sized streams, and is relatively tolerant of warm water temperatures. The stream conditioned favored by this species varies depending on sex. Male sculpins tend to live in silt or in aquatic plant growth. Female sculpins tend to live in streams with faster currents. C. girardi juveniles tend to live in streams with minimal current.
