Cottus rondeleti
Local name: Hérault sculpin
Cottus rondeleti is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is endemic to the coastal Hérault drainage of Southern France.
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Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottus_rondeleti
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Scorpaeniformes
Family
Cottidae
Genus
Cottus
Cottus rondeleti belongs to the family Cottidae, order Scorpaeniformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Cottus rondeleti is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is endemic to the coastal Hérault drainage of Southern France. The total known distribution comprises three distinct short stretches of stream, and the species considered Near Threatened because of habitat destruction and potentially by climate change.
The Hérault sculpin is critically endangered due to its extremely limited range, being endemic to a small section of the Hérault River basin in southern France. The species faces severe threats from habitat degradation, water pollution, and hydrological modifications that have drastically reduced suitable spawning and nursery areas. Climate change and drought conditions further exacerbate these pressures by reducing water flow and increasing water temperatures beyond the species' tolerance levels.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Hérault sculpin is critically endangered due to its extremely limited range, being endemic to a small section of the Hérault River basin in southern France. The species faces severe threats from habitat degradation, water pollution, and hydrological modifications that have drastically reduced suitable spawning and nursery areas. Climate change and drought conditions further exacerbate these pressures by reducing water flow and increasing water temperatures beyond the species' tolerance levels.
Climate change and drought
Extremely limited geographic range
Habitat degradation and fragmentation
Hydrological modifications and dam construction
Water pollution from agricultural and urban runoff
Found in 1 Country
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Cottus rondeleti (Cottus rondeleti). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/herault-sculpin