FAMILY COTTIDAE 



253 



bairdii. The distance between the tip of the snout and the anus is 

 nearly equal to the distance between the anus and the tip of the 

 caudal fin rather than the base of the caudal fin. 



SLIMY MUDDLER (Northern Miller's-Thumb) 

 Cottus cognatus Richardson 



The slimy muddler (Figures 53 and 54) is similar to Cottus bairdii in 

 appearance and habits. It differs largely in having 1 spine and 3 rays in 

 the pelvic fin, instead of 1 spine and 4 soft rays as in C. bairdii. It has 8 

 spines and IG to 18 soft rays in the dorsal fin. This species ranges from 

 Alaska and Canada into the Great Lakes drainage and east of the 

 Alleghenies to West Virginia. It has been found in the shallow waters 

 along the Minnesota and Wisconsin shores of Lake Superior and in 

 many of the streams tributary to Lake Superior. There are specimens 

 in the University of Minnesota collections from the Temperance. Devil 



Figure 53. Slimy muddler, Cottus cognatus, 3 inches long. 



Figure SJ/.. Slimy muddler, Cottus cognatus, dorsal view showing 

 large pectoral fins. 



