Cottus ohlone Moyle and Campbell 2022

Moyle, Peter B. & Campbell, Matthew A., 2022, Cryptic Species of Freshwater Sculpin (Cottidae: Cottus) in California, USA, Zootaxa 5154 (5), pp. 501-527 : 518

Cottus ohlone Moyle and Campbell 2022 . Coastal Riffle Sculpin, new species urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8F6E51D6-5317-4F4E-9246-B2F30FBE7207

Description as for C. gulosus . Meristics of sculpins used in this study ( Table 1 , n = 45): anal-fin rays (12–14), dorsal spines (6–9), dorsal-fin rays (15–19), dorsal fins joined? (variable), black spot present on dorsal, palatine teeth usually present (variable), mouth vs eye (variable but maxilla mostly reaches mid-eye), chin pores (0–2), pelvic fin spines + rays (1+3), pelvics do not touch vent, pectoral-fin rays (14–16), preopercular spines (2), lateral line (complete/incomplete, variable), lateral line pores (25–35). Other characters are listed in Table 1 .

Holotype. WFB- 3402. 65 m SL, 79 mm TL from Guadalupe Creek , Santa Clara County, California. November 18, 1986. Collected by Jerry J. Smith ( Fig. 1 ). 65 mm SL, 79 mm TL. Anal fin rays 13; dorsal fin spines 8; dorsal fin rays 19; dorsal fins joined; dorsal fin spot present; palatine teeth absent; maxilla reaches middle of eye; 1 chin pore; pelvic fins 1 spine, 3 rays; pelvics do not touch vent; pectora1-fin rays 15; preopercular spines 1; lateral line incomplete; lateral line pores, 27; axillary prickles present but small.

Paratypes. WFB-3403, 3404, 3405, 3406 from same location. 58–60 mm SL, 74–81 TL. Anal-fin rays 13; dorsal fin spines 8; dorsal fin rays 17–19; dorsal fins variable in joining; dorsal fin spot present; palatine teeth absent; maxilla reaches middle of eye; 1–2 chin pores; pelvic fins 1 spine, 3 rays; pelvic fins do not touch vent in 3 of 4; pectora1 fin rays 13–15; preopercular spines 1; lateral line incomplete in most; lateral line pores, 26–33; axillary prickles present but small.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other members of the C. gulosus complex as a distinct lineage as determined by molecular phylogenetic and population genomic evidence ( Baumsteiger et al. 2014, this study) and by its limited distribution ( Fig. 2 ).

Distribution. Restricted to drainages flowing west or southwest along the Coast Range Mountains of California, with two distinct lineages, described as subspecies here. The watersheds include (a) the Russian River and Redwood Creek (which flow directly into the Pacific Ocean, (b) the Napa River, Sonoma Creek and nearby watersheds that flow into north San Francisco Bay, (c) streams draining the Diablo and Coastal ranges through the Santa Clara Valley and nearby areas and flowing into south San Francisco Bay, and (d) tributaries to the Pajaro River, in the Salinas River watershed ( Fig. 2 ). Populations may also exist in the headwaters of the Salinas River ( Snyder 1913) although there are no recent records. Habitats are restricted to cool, clear permanent streams with rocky riffles, mostly in headwaters.

Etymology. Ohlone honors the Ohlone peoples, who were the original human inhabitants of the Santa Clara Valley region and much of the southern San Francisco Bay region (see http://www.muwekma.org/). The name Ohlone refers to the more than 50 peoples that spoke similar languages and interacted with one another in the region. Their descendants are largely encompassed in the present-day Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Inland (A, B) and Coastal (C, D) Riffle Sculpins from the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology. (A) San Joaquin Riffle Sculpin, Cottus gulosus gulosus. WFB-277-08-09. Kaweah River, Tulare County, California (68 mm SL, 82 mm TL). Coll. Larry Brown, September 10, 1985. Holotype is same as for C. gulosus (USNM 291). (B) Sacramento Riffle Sculpin, Cottus gulosus wintu. Holotype WFB-3464. North Fork Feather River, Butte County, California (78 mm SL, 96 mm TL). Coll. Jason Baumsteiger, October 5, 2017. (C) Coastal Riffle Sculpin, Cottus ohlone. Holotype. WFB-3402.Also, holotype for Ohlone Sculpin, C. o. ohlone. Guadalupe River, Santa Clara County, California (65 mm SL, 79 mm TL). Coll: J. J. Smith, November 18, 1986. (D) Pomo Riffle Sculpin, Cottus ohlone pomo. Holotype. WFB-3396. Pieta Creek near mouth on Russian River, Mendocino County, California (90 mm SL, 105 mm TL). Coll. P Moyle, J. Baumsteiger, August 2, 2017.

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Riffle Sculpin taxa in California, described in the text. Pit Sculpin (Cottus pitensis) is found in the northeast (light green). Inland Riffle Sculpin (Cottus gulosus) is found mainly in streams of the Central Valley (blue/orange), while Coastal Riffle Sculpin (Cottus ohlone) is confined to coastal and South San Francisco Bay watersheds (yellow/pink).