Cottus Tallapoosae
📖 Overview
Inhabits clean gravel or rocky bottomed streams with moderate to swift current. Frequently found in streams 3-15 m wide and at depths of 0.5-0.7 m . Feeds on anything alive which fits into its mouth .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 18; Anal soft rays: 10 - 14; Vertebrae: 29 - 32. Diagnosed from all congeners except Cottus chattahoochee by the combination of the following characters: modally eight infraorbital canal pores; five bones in the suborbital series; reduced palatine teeth; a flexible spine and four rays in the pelvic fin; preoperculomandibular canals not fused at anterior rami of mandibles, with two pores at tip of chin; pectoral rays simple; preopercular armature well-developed with two or three spines; chin not mottled; and dorsal fins separate. Differs from Cottus chattahoochee by having the following features: usually incomplete lateral line (vs. complete); dermal prickling reduced or absent, when present generally restricted to a few scattered prickles in area along anterior part of lateral line (vs. a robust postpectoral patch in addition to prickles along the anterior lateral line); and narrow to moderately wide saddles (vs. moderate or wide) .
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Cottus Tallapoosae is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical North America: endemic to the Tallapoosa River drainage above the Fall Line in the east-central Alabama and west-central Georgia, USA.
🌿 Ecology
anything alive which fits into its mouth (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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