Common Bullhead (Cottus perifretum): facts, sounds & photos

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Common Bullhead (Cottus perifretum) lives in small streams, medium rivers across Western Europe. It feeds on diet not mentioned. Its conservation status is Least Concern.

Fascinating facts about the Common Bullhead

A 2005 study by Freyhof, Kottelat and Nolte split the common bullhead from its European cousin, showing how a tiny fish can hide whole lineages in plain sight. By comparing DNA and subtle body details, they proved that what anglers thought was one species was actually two. This reshapes our view of freshwater biodiversity, reminding us that even well-known waters hide secret histories.
It reaches a maximum length of 13.4 cm (5.3 in) and prefers small streams to medium-sized rivers.
The fish’s name, perifretum, combines Latin words for “around” and “straits,” referring to its presence on both sides of the English Channel.
While native to England and Wales, the bullhead is invasive in Germany’s Rhine drainage and the Netherlands, and forms an intermediate population with C. rhenanus.

At a glance

RangeWestern Europe

Habitatsmall streams, medium rivers

Dietdiet not mentioned

About the Common Bullhead

The Common Bullhead (Cottus perifretum) reaches a maximum length of 13.4 cm (5.3 in) and prefers small streams to medium-sized rivers. Its name refers to its distribution on both sides of the English Channel.

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