View source for Clinocottus

{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{Automatic_taxobox
| image =FMIB 47909 Oligocottus embryum.jpeg
| image_caption = ''Clinocottus embryum''
| taxon = Clinocottus
| authority = [[Theodore Gill|Gill]], 1861
| type_species = ''Oligocottus analis''
| type_species_authority = [[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1858<ref name = CofF>{{Cof family|family=Oligocottinae|access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref>
| synonyms = {{Genus list
| Allocottus | [[Carl Leavitt Hubbs|Hubbs]], 1926
| Blennicottus | Gill, 1861
| Montereya | [[Carl Leavitt Hubbs|Hubbs]], 1926
| Oxycottus | [[David Starr Jordan|Jordan]] & [[Barton Warren Evermann|Evermann]], 1898
| Rusulus | [[Edwin Chapin Starks|Starks]] & [[William M. Mann|Mann]], 1911
}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = CofF/>
}}
'''''Clinocottus''''' is a [[genus]] of marine [[ray-finned fish]]es belonging to the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Cottidae]], the typical sculpins. They are nearshore benthic fishes native to the northeastern [[Pacific Ocean]]. They are mentioned as '''sharpnose sculpins'''.<ref>[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=167222 ''Clinocottus'' Gill, 1861] [[ITIS]]</ref>
==Taxonomy==
''Clinocottus'' was first proposed as a [[monospecific genus]] in 1861 by the American [[zoologist]] [[Theodore Gill]] with ''Oligocottus analis'', which had been [[Species description|described]] in 1858 by Charles Frédéric Girard from [[Monterey, California]], as its only species.<ref name = CofF/><ref name = cofF2>{{Cof genus|genus=Clinocottus|access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref> Molecular data indicate that this genus is [[polyphyletic]] or [[paraphyletic]], it does not constitute a natural assemblage within Cottidae.<ref name = B&L2015>{{cite journal | author1 =Thaddaeus J. Buser | author2 = J. Andrés López | year = 2015 | url = http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790315000627 | title = Molecular phylogenetics of sculpins of the subfamily Oligocottinae (Cottidae)] | journal =Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume = 86 | pages =64–74| doi = 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.03.006 | pmid = 25791911 }}</ref> Workers have found that the [[lavender sculpin]] (''Leiocottus hirundo'') is the [[sister taxon]] to ''C. analis'', a species which is not closely related to ''C. acuticeps''. In turn, ''C. acuticeps'' is determined to be basal to ''[[Artedius]]'',<ref name = R&K2008>{{cite journal | author1 = Marina L. Ramon | author2 = Matthew L. Knope | year =2008 | title = Molecular support for marine sculpin (Cottidae; Oligocottinae) diversification during the transition from the subtidal to intertidal habitat in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean | journal =Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume = 46 | issue = 2 | pages = 475–483 | doi =10.1016/j.ympev.2007.11.005| pmid = 18248743 }}</ref> or to the [[clade]] referred to as Oligocottinae.<ref name = Knope>{{cite journal | author = Matthew L. Knope | year = 2013 | title = Phylogenetics of the marine sculpins (Teleostei: Cottidae) of the North American Pacific Coast | journal = Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume = 66 | issue = 1 | pages = 341–349|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2012.10.008| pmid = 23099148 }}</ref> The 5th edition of ''[[Fishes of the World]]'' classifies the genus ''Clinocottus'' within the [[subfamily]] [[Cottinae]] of the family Cottidae,<ref name = Nelson5>{{cite book |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |author1=J. S. Nelson |author2=T. C. Grande |author3=M. V. H. Wilson |year=2016 |pages=467–495 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-34233-6 |url=https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |archive-date=2019-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408194051/https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> however, other authors classify the genus within the subfamily [[Oligocottinae]] of the family [[Psychrolutidae]].<ref name = CofF/>
==Etymology==
''Clinocottus'' combines ''[[Clinus]]'' a genus of [[blennies]] with ''[[Cottus (fish)|Cottus]]'', probably because Girard though the rounded head of the mosshead sculpin was reminiscent of the ehad shape of some [[gobies]] and blennies.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/perciformes20/ | title = Order Perciformes: Suborder Cottoidea: Infraorder Cottales: Family Cottidae (Sculpins) | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 22 October 2022 | access-date = 29 January 2023 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>
==Species==
There are currently five recognized species in this genus:<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase genus | genus = Clinocottus| month = August | year = 2022}}</ref>
* ''[[Clinocottus acuticeps]]'' <small>([[Charles Henry Gilbert|C. H. Gilbert]], 1896)</small> (Sharpnose sculpin)
* ''[[Clinocottus analis]]'' <small>([[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1858)</small> (Woolly sculpin)
* ''[[Clinocottus embryum]]'' <small>([[David Starr Jordan|D. S. Jordan]] & [[Edwin Chapin Starks|Starks]], 1895)</small> (Calico sculpin)
* ''[[Clinocottus globiceps]]'' <small>(Girard, 1858)</small> (Mosshead sculpin)
* ''[[Clinocottus recalvus]]'' <small>([[Arthur White Greeley|Greeley]], 1899)</small> (Bald sculpin)
==Characteristics==
''Clinocottus'' sculpins are characterised by having the [[anus]] in a forward position between the [[anal fin]] and the [[pelvic fin]]s, they have a heavy and blunt penis and in both sexes the anal fin is unmodified. ''C. analis'' and ''C. acuticeps'' have pointed heads, which is regarded as a [[Basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] feature and the remaining 3 species have sizeable, rounded heads. This is suggestive of the paraphyly of the group.<ref name = Knope/> These are small sculpins, the largest species is the mosshead sculpin with a maximum published [[total length]] of {{cvt|19|cm}} and the smallest is the calico sculpin with a maximum published [[total length]] of {{cvt|7|cm}}.<ref name = Fishbase/>
==Distribution==
''Clinocottus'' sculpins are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where they are found in the intertidal zone.<ref name = Fishbase/><ref name = R&K2008/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2047619}}
[[Category:Cottinae]]
[[Category:Clinocottus| ]]
[[Category:Western North American coastal fauna| ]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Theodore Gill]]