| Main Ref. | Adams, G.L., B.M. Burr, J.L. Day and D.E. Starkey, 2013 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Distinguished from all congeners, except Cottus carolinae, Cottus chattahoochee, Cottus confusus, Cottus hubbsi, and some populations of Cottus beldingii by the complete lateral line ending near the base of the caudal fin and dorsal fins not usually connected. Cottus specus only occupies geographically adjacent to C. carolinae and can be distinguished by a reduction in eye size: 1-5% SL in 98% of specimens (1-4% in 85% of specimens) versus eye size 5-9% of SL in 100% of specimens. Cottus specus possesses a significant increase in cephalic lateralis pore size, 92% above 500 mm (vs. 100% in C. carolinae between 200-500 mm) (Ref. 92978). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | 32 - 36 |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 7 - 8 |
| Soft-rays total | 16 - 18 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes | more or less truncate |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 12 - 14 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 14 - 17 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 3 - 4 |