European bullhead

European bullhead
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Cottoidei
Family: Cottidae
Genus: Cottus
Species:
C. gobio
Binomial name
Cottus gobio
Synonyms
  • Cottus gobio gobio Linnaeus, 1758
  • Cottus affinis Heckel, 1837
  • Cottus ferrugineus Bonaparte, 1846
  • Cottus ferrugineus Heckel & Kner, 1858
  • Cottus gobio macrostomus Jeitteles, 1863
  • Cottus gobio jaxartensis Berg, 1916
  • Cottus jaxartensis Berg, 1916
  • Cottus gobio roseus Odenwall, 1927
  • Cottus gobio pellegrini Vladykov, 1931
  • Cottus gobio pellegrini Băcescu & Băcescu-Mester, 1964

The European bullhead (Cottus gobio) is a freshwater fish that is widely distributed in Europe, mainly in rivers. It is a member of the family Cottidae, a type of sculpin. It is also known as the miller's thumb, freshwater sculpin, common bullhead, and cob.

The European bullhead is a small demersal fish that lives both in cold, clear, fast-flowing small streams and in middle-sized rivers. It also occurs on gravelly shores of cold lakes. Further, it thrives in diluted brackish water of the Northern Baltic Sea.