| Main Ref. | Freyhof, J., M. Kottelat and A. Nolte, 2005 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | elongated |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Differs from other species of Cottus in North Sea basin by the combination of the following characters, none of them unique: no distinct transverse bands on pelvic fin; prickling on body absent or only under pectoral fin; base of first dorsal fin with faint black blotches at anterior and posterior extremities; depth of caudal peduncle 26-31% HL; lateral line complete; and unique molecular markers (Ref. 55856). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | 26 - 38 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | 11 - 14 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 14 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 4 - 4 |