Blenny darter
Blenny darter | |
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Subgenus: | Etheostoma
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Species: | E. blennius
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Binomial name | |
Etheostoma blennius Gilbert & Swain, 1887
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The Blenny darter (Etheostoma blennius) is a species of fish in the family Percidae. E. blennius are a poorly known percid from Alabama and Tennessee that inhabit swift riffles.
Biology
Etheostoma blennius live a maximum of two to three years, grows to a maximum of 69 mm SL (standard length) and is sexually mature at one year.[1] E. blennius are reproductively active throughout March and April. Spawning occurs on gravel riffles with swift current. Mature eggs are orange and translucent. E. blennius is insectivorous, with analyzed gut contents containing Nematocera larvae, more specifically black fly (Simuliidae) and midge (Chironomidae) larvae. Furthermore, significant numbers of mayfly (Ephemeroptera) and caddisfly (Trichoptera) nymphs were found in gut.
Characteristics
Etheostoma blennius have a deep and robust anterior body that tapers to a narrow caudal peduncle. Dorsum olive-brown or tan with 4 bold dark brown to blue-black saddles. Nape and belly fully scaled with breast and cheek naked. Teardrop typically present.[2] Breeding males show an overall orangish hue, with dull red spots in the center of each upper body scale; anal fin has 8 rays and are bluish-black; caudal and pectoral and caudalfins green with 16 rays; dorsal fins reddish-purple with 11-12 rays; oral and nasal areas blue with rest of head green.[3] Two subspecies are know: Etheostoma blennius blennius and Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense.
- Etheostoma blennius blennius: possesses unscaled opercle and 42-51 lateral scales.
- Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense: possesses a scaled opercle and 40-44 lateral scales; integrades between Etheostoma blennius blennius and Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense do occur.
Conservation
Boschung and Mayden (2004) recommend Etheostoma blennius for Special Concern status in Alabama due to its limited distribution. Furthermore, much of the area in Alabama where Etheostoma blennius occurs is proposed for a number of floodwater-retarding dams and such structures would greatly degrade the remaining habitat where Etheostoma blennius occurs.
Distribution
Etheostoma blennius are a native southeastern darter found in Alabama and Tennessee. They are found in small to large tributaries of the Tennessee River drainage, more specifically the Buffalo River, Duck River, Sequatchie River, and White Oak Creek, Tennessee. Etheostoma blennius have a more limited distribution in Alabama and are restricted to Tennessee River tributaries within the Tennessee Valley of the Highland Rim.
- Etheostoma blennius blennius: occurs in Buffalo River, Duck River, and White Oak Creek, Tennessee
- Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense: limited to Sequatchie River in Tennessee; integrades between Etheostoma blennius blennius and Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense occur throughout Alabama and the Elk River in Tennessee[4]
Etymology
- Etheostoma: etheo meaning filter or strain, and stoma meaning mouth
- Etheostoma blennius blennius: resembling a marine blenny
- Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense: of the Sequatchie River[5]
Habitat
Etheostoma blennius typical habitat is deep, fast, clear-water riffles with non-compacted gravel substrates containing minimal or no aquatic vegetation.
Systematics
Brooks M. Burr (1979) used 51 morphological characteristics, which indicated that the nearest relative of Etheostoma blennius is Etheostoma swannanoa (Swannanoa darter) of the Etheostoma thalassinum (Seagreen darter) group.[6]
Etheostoma blennius belongs to the subgenus Etheostoma that contains the following species:
- Etheostoma blennioides (Greenside darter)
- Etheostoma gutselli (Tuckasegee darter)
- Etheostoma histrio (Harlequin darter)
- Etheostoma inscriptum (Turquoise darter)
- Etheostoma lynceum (Brighteye darter)
- Etheostoma rupestre (Rock darter)
- Etheostoma sellare (Maryland darter)
- Etheostoma swannanoa (Swannanoa darter)
- Etheostoma thalassinum (Seagreen darter)
- Etheostoma zonale (Banded darter)
Etheostoma blennius is further nested within the greenside darter group that contains the following species:
- Etheostoma blennioides (Greenside darter)
- Etheostoma gutselli (Tuckasegee darter)
- Etheostoma inscriptum (Turquoise darter)
- Etheostoma swannanoa (Swannanoa darter)
- Etheostoma thalassinum (Seagreen darter)[7]
References
- ^ Burr, Brooks M (1979). Systematics and Life History Aspects of the Percid Fish Etheostoma blennius with Description of a New Subspecies from Sequatchie River, Tennessee. Copeia. 1979 (2): pp. 191-203.
- ^ Burr, Brooks M and Page, Lawrence M (1991). Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin.
- ^ Boschung, Herbert T; Mayden, Richard L; Tomelleri, Joseph R (2004). The Fishes of Alabama. Smithsonian Books.
- ^ Boschung, Herbert T; Mayden, Richard L; Tomelleri, Joseph R (2004). The Fishes of Alabama. Smithsonian Books.
- ^ Scharpf, Christopher (2008). North American Native Fishes Association: American Currents 34(4): pp. 20-22.
- ^ Burr, Brooks M (1979). Systematics and Life History Aspects of the Percid Fish Etheostoma blennius with Description of a New Subspecies from Sequatchie River, Tennessee. Copeia. 1979 (2): pp. 191-203.
- ^ Scharpf, Christopher (2008). North American Native Fishes Association: American Currents 34(4): pp. 20-22.