Fish Identification

Type: Nontidal
Region: Unknown
Location: Stream

I wanted to see if you could identify this Darter. I know the pictures are not great. The guy does not like to cooperate -LOL! I have looked up several sites and have yet to find this one. I know it resembles the Maryland Darter, but the back fins seem to be a little different. It has brown band or stripes, about 2" long, found in a Maryland stream. Any help would be great.

DNR Response via Mark Staley, Fisheries Biologist - You have a sculpin. Either the Potomac sculpin (Cottus girardi) or the Blue Ridge Sculpin ( Cottus caeruleomentum). Both species are found commonly in MD. They are a bottom dwelling fish that prefers to live in rocky streams. Darters inhabit similar streams but are much thinner and their head is not nearly as massive, more pencil shaped as opposed to the sparkplug shape of the sculpin.