Banded Sculpin

Description:

Cottus carolinae is a freshwater species dwelling within the United States. The wide-ranging species occurs in eastern North America west of the Appalachians and south of the Ohio River Valley.[1] The species lives as far south as the mountain streams of Alabama, but prefers the cooler streams of the mid to northern United States.[5] Though they occupy such a large portion of the United States, they have a small home range of about forty-seven square meters.[4] C. carolinae can live in streams, rivers, and have even become adapted for cave life in underground springs.[6] The species is intolerant to habitat changes, and has experienced some limitations due to the effects of pollution. The largest pollutant threat to Cottus carolinae habitat is siltation of rivers and streams. Additionally, water impurities such as mining-derived metals in areas of Missouri have posed a high enough threat to populations that numbers have dwindled in those areas.[

Habitat:

Common in spring-fed creeks and upland streams with rocky bottoms from the lower Cumberland River (Land Between the Lakes) eastward to the Kentucky River drainage.

Notes:

Spotted while touring the Hidden River Cave (Access via American Cave Museum in downtown Horse Cave) Horse Cave, KY