Range and Identity
Cottus girardi occurs in upper Potomac waters of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, with a separate James-drainage occurrence in Virginia’s Cowpasture River. The common name therefore does not describe the entire documented distribution. A watershed name is valuable when interpreting records outside the Potomac itself.
Habitat and Behavior
Adults occupy rocky pools and runs, sometimes close to vegetation. These settings can occur within the same stream but differ in current and available cover. Recording the immediate substrate is more informative than describing every site simply as an upland creek.
Food and Life History
The maximum reference is fourteen centimeters total length. The retrieved summary does not establish an independent maximum mass or detailed prey proportions. A particular sculpin spawning schedule should be connected to this identity before being applied to all populations in its separated drainage occurrences.
Field Note
Retain the parent drainage with a stream record. It prevents the Potomac common name from hiding a valid observation in the neighboring James system.
All Lakes With Potomac Sculpin
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Potomac Sculpin records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.