Report
Protecting our water to protect our community
Perry County Community Economic and Environment Committee
Record Number:
5200
Year:
2013
Pages:
128 pages
Abstract:
The grotto sculpin (Cottus specus) is a cave-dwelling fish that exhibits characteristics typical of
troglomorphic (adapted to living in constant darkness) organisms, including greatly reduced or absent
eyes and skin pigmentation (Burr et al. 2001). The grotto sculpin is currently found in two karst areas
(limestone regions characterized by sink holes, abrupt ridges, caves, and underground streams) in Perry
County, Missouri: Central Perryville and Mystery-Rimstone (Burr et al. 2001). The grotto sculpin occurs
in Blue Spring Branch (from the Moore Cave System resurgence to the confluence with Bois Brule Creek)
and the Cinque Hommes Creek drainage, including underlying caves, and Cinque Hommes Creek, its
tributaries, resurgences, and springs. Within the Cinque Hommes Creek drainage, populations have been
documented in five cave systems: Moore Cave, Crevice Cave, Mystery Cave, Rimstone River Cave, and
Running Bull Cave (Adams et al. unpub. data; Adams 2012, pers. comm.). Within these cave systems,
grotto sculpin occur in cave streams and associated resurgences and springs. Thus far Cinque Hommes
Creek and Blue Spring Branch are the only surface streams where grotto sculpin have been found. Cinque
Hommes Creek is the primary resurgence stream for caves in the Mystery-Rimstone Karst and Crevice
Cave in the Central Perryville Karst, whereas Blue Spring Branch is the resurgence stream for the Moore
Cave System (Burr et al. 2001). (Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife)
The grotto sculpin requires karst habitats that provide consistent water flow, high organic input, and
connection to surface streams, which allow for seasonal migrations to complete its life cycle. The karst
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topography in Perry County is characterized by thousands of sinkholes (Vandike 1985) and over 700
caves (Fox et al. 2009)—more than any other county in Missouri. Water flow in karst systems occurs by
way of surface features, such as sinkholes and losing streams, as well as connectivity to the underlying
aquifer.
Times Cited:
1
Relevent Species: