Dordogne Sculpin

Differs from all species of Cottus in Europe by the dorsal fins usually separate in both sexes. Other characters useful to distinguish the species from other Cottus in Atlantic drainages include: relatively elongated body; first dorsal fin low, slightly rounded or regularly slanted; caudal peduncle stout (length 14-20% SL; depth 8-9% SL and 1.5-2.4 times in its length); no prickling in adults; eye diameter 19-26% of HL; interorbital distance 0.9-1.2 times in eye diameter; last anal-fin ray connected to body by a membrane at most along 1/4 of its length; last dorsal-fin ray connected to body by a membrane along 1/2-4/5 of its length; no membrane between pelvic fin and body; pelvic-fin ray 1 straight and slender; lateral line complete (Ref. 55856).

Analsoft rays: 12 - 13

Inhabits streams with clear, cool, moderate to swift water and stone substrate (Ref. 59043).

Cottus duranii, the Dordogne sculpin or Chabot d’Auvergne, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It is found in France. It inhabits the Loire and Dordogne river drainages. It reaches a maximum length of 10.0 cm. It prefers streams with clear, cool, moderate to swift water and stone substrate. This species was described as a separate species from the European bullhead (C. gobio) in 2005 by Jörg Freyhof, Maurice Kottelat and Arne W. Nolte. The specific name durani means “of Duranius”, the Latin name of the River Dordogne.