Identification
Dark saddles and mottling break up a brownish body. A single pore at the chin and the arrangement of the dorsal fins are useful technical characters. Breeding males can develop green or orange color in the first dorsal fin. That seasonal color should be used with other features rather than alone.
Habitat and Feeding
Coastrange Sculpin occurs over gravel and rubble in medium to large rivers and along rocky lake margins. Some populations also use estuarine or coastal water. It feeds especially at night on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, including aquatic insects.
Reproduction and Movement
Published accounts describe spring spawning movements downstream and eggs placed beneath rocks. Males guard the eggs. Later upstream movement is also documented, illustrating that a small bottom fish can depend on more than one part of a river during its life cycle.
Mottling Is Only the Start
Several sculpins blend into stony stream bottoms. A reliable identification also considers the chin pore, fins and drainage.
All Lakes With Coastrange Sculpin
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Coastrange Sculpin records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
Showing 1–2 of 2 lakes · Page 1 of 1
- Paddle Lake Kenai Peninsula, AK
- Rainbow Lake Kenai Peninsula, AK