Lateral Line Development and Feeding Behavior in the Mottled Sculpin, Cottus bairdi (Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae)

The lateral line of adult mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi, consists of superficial neuromasts (on the skin surface) and canal neuromasts (enclosed in subdermal canals). At hatching, all neuromasts are superficial; some become enclosed in canals as the fish grows. We examined the role of the lateral line in larval feeding and how its role changes as canals form, using prey detection as an indicator of sensitivity. Larval sculpins appear to make excellent use of the lateral line to feed, but canal formation is associated with a decrease in sensitivity.