Bullhead  (Cottus gobio)

The bullhead is widely distributed in England and Wales but in Scotland is only known from the Forth and Clyde catchments (7). Elsewhere, the species is found in Europe, but it does not have such a favourable status there, and so it is listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (4).

Occurs in freshwater streams, rivers and lakes with hard stony substrates and shows a preference for fast flowing, shallow water bodies (7) (8). The large pectoral fins enable bullheads to hold their position in fast flowing water (5).