The taxonomy of mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi complex) in Harney Basin, Oregon was reviewed and diagnostic characters were evaluated. The literature and current data support recognition of two species, Malheur mottled sculpin (C. bendirei) and Columbia mottled sculpin (C. hubbsi). Counts of body prickles on the left side, completeness of lateral line and relative head size were used to classify Harney Basin individuals. Both species occurred in northern Harney Basin and hybrids were found at contact zones in Silver and Silvies rivers. Cottus hubbsi appeared dominant in mainstem Silvies R. with C. bendirei upstream and in isolated creeks. Cottus bendirei was the only species in southern Harney Basin. Both species also occurred outside Harney Basin in the Malheur and Snake rivers, lower Columbia Basin, and probably the upper Columbia Basin. An alternative hypothesis, that these forms represent a single polymorphic species or ecotype, was tentatively rejected because the congruence of morphology and distribution was consistent with two species meeting in a narrow hybrid zone. A better understanding of reproduction, development and the dynamics of sculpin hybrid contact zones is needed to resolve the question
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Title
Taxonomy and distribution of the Malheur mottled sculpin, Cottus bendirei
Creators
Douglas F. Markle (Author)
Donald L. Jr. Hill (Author)
Publication Details
Northwest science., Vol.74(3), pp.202-211
Academic Unit
Northwest Science
Publisher
WSU Press
Identifiers
99900502486301842
Copyright
In copyright ; openAccess ; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ ; http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess