New Fish Species Discovered in Western US Rivers

A new species of fish has been confirmed swimming in rivers in the western US, according to the US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Like most new animal species confirmed today, the physical differences between this new fish species, a type of sculpin, are few when compared to its kin. But genetic analysis of the fish revealed that it is indeed a new species.

"Recognizing species of sculpins is a challenge because even distantly related species look very much alike. So rather than taking a morphological approach to identification, we used genetic methods to delineate the species," said Michael Young, a Forest Service research fisheries biologist. "It's really exciting to find a new species of fish. It's something you might expect in more remote parts of the world, but not in the US."

Known as the ceder sculpin (Cottus schitsuumsh), the new species is quite similar to the shorthead sculpin. Prior to the new study, ceder sculpin specimens were thought to be shorthead sculpin by fishermen and researchers working in the Coeur d' Alene and St. Joe river basins in Idaho.

Because the range of the new species overlaps with the historical homeland of the native Coeur d' Alene people, the scientists consulted with local tribal elders when choosing the scientific name for the new species.

Schitsu'umsh (pronounced "s-CHEET-sue-umsh") translates to "those who were found here" and is the name for a local Coeur d' Alene tribe. The common name "ceder sculpin" refers to the western redcedar, a tree often found along streams in the region, the Forest Service reported.

As the only small fish found in the area's headwater streams, sculpins play two valuable roles: one as a food source for sport fish such as trout, and another as an indicator of water quality.

A full taxonomic description of the new fish species is available in the current edition of the journal Zootaxa.