---
title: "Banded Sculpin"
description: "Cottus carolinae — Poissons. The banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae) is a freshwater fish dwelling mostly in small to moderate sized streams in areas of swift current."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/fr/animal/banded-sculpin
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Banded Sculpin

> Cottus carolinae — Poissons. The banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae) is a freshwater fish dwelling mostly in small to moderate sized streams in areas of swift current.

- Scientific name: *Cottus carolinae*
- Category: `fish` (Poissons)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lacs et rivières)
- iNaturalist observations: 2046
- Wikidata: [Q5023123](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5023123)
- iNaturalist taxon: [98561](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/98561)

## Names

- en: Banded Sculpin
- de: Bändergroppe

## Countries with the most observations

US (1567)

## Summary

The banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae) is a freshwater fish dwelling mostly in small to moderate sized streams in areas of swift current. Young and juvenile C. carolinae can mainly be found in pools, riffles, and other shallow habitats while adults tend to prefer deeper waters. C. carolinae primarily eats insects and insect larvae, but their large mouths enable them to eat prey nearly as large as themselves, including other sculpin. To prevent predation, including by other fish, the color and pattern of the sculpin tends to match its environment. Most Cottus carolinae are mottled brown with dark vertical banding and…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_sculpin

## Photo

![Banded Sculpin](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/banded-sculpin/medium.jpg)

Photo: Elaina R · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121095069

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/banded-sculpin?lang=fr` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).