Paiute sculpin

Paiute sculpin are small and can grow up to 13 cm, although their growth is slow. They are mottled brown and black in color on their upper sides and are pale below. They have a dot on the caudal peduncle near their second dorsal fin either colored yellow or white. Their fins (pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, anal, and caudal) can be mottled too. They have 4–5 vertical bands on their sides. Their coloring provides good camouflage in the stream environments. They have smooth skin without scales. Their body does not have any spines unlike the closely related Prickly Sculpin. Their caudal fin is rounded, and their dorsal fin is separated with their pelvic fins extending past their vent. Their pectoral fins have been described as fan-like and contain 14–15 rays within the fins. The posterior dorsal fin is rayed, containing 13–16 rays and the anterior dorsal fin is spined, containing 6–8 spines. The upper spine is long and slender while the second spine is more inconspicuous and less obvious. Male Paiute sculpin have long papillae that set them apart from the females. Their lateral line is incomplete and contains 23–35 pores. They also have two median chin pores. == Distribution ==

The Paiute sculpin is found in Western United States in the Lahontan system, the Columbia River drainage which includes Lake Tahoe. They were also found to be very abundant in the Lahontan system in Nevada and California, specifically the upper cold reaches of the lakes and streams in the basin, where there are no other species of freshwater sculpin found. == Biology ==

Paiute Sculpin are benthic-dwelling fish and remain strictly at the bottom of the cold waters they are found in. They hide under rocks and plants in the day and come out at night time to feed. These fish reach sexual maturity in their second and third year and will spawn in primarily May and June == Diet ==

The Paiute Sculpin are benthic organisms and therefore their diet is mainly benthic consisting of a lot of aquatic insect larvae. They also will eat aquatic beetles, snails, water mites, algae, and detritus. They will feed primarily at night as it is easier to ambush and capture their prey when they have limited visibility. It has also been observed that their feeding varies with seasonality. == Conservation ==

The Paiute sculpin is not currently listed but is found in freshwater systems in California and Nevada co-occurring with Lahontan cutthroat trout, cui-ui, and bull trout all of which are listed IUCN species. Their movement has been known to be restricted by anthropogenic disturbance, effecting the long-term population viability for those in that area. In the Sagehen Creek watershed they have been met with some difficulty from the invasive signal crayfish. The crayfish are encroaching on the sculpin habitat and have been found to be affecting growth rates and gut fullness. ==References==