Redlips Darter

biology_ecology

Ecology. The ecology of E. maydeni was described by Shepard & Burr (1984) along with the rest of the E. cinereum complex. Cumberland River system populations (i. e., E. maydeni) were noted as having slower growth than other populations, males outnumbering females rather than the opposite for other populations, and a greater reliance on burrowing mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Ephemera) and oligochaetes in their diet with a lower proportion of Chironomidae compared to other populations. Specimens for this study were collected largely in water approximately 0.5 – 1 m deep over large rocks and course woody debris with slow current adjacent to faster current.

Systematics of the Etheostoma cinereum (Teleostei: Percidae) species complex (subgenus Allohistium)

description

Description. Coloration and body shape of E. maydeni are depicted in Fig. 5 A. The largest specimen examined for this study was 99.1 mm SL. Snout elongated; gill membranes separate; nape, breast and prepectoral area unscaled; belly and opercle scaled; cheek scaled but scales are often deeply imbedded and inconspicuous. Lateral-line scales 52 (2), 53 (4), 54 (3), 55 (2), 56 (4), 57 (5), 58 (6), 59 (4), 60 (4), 61 (3), 62 (2), 63 (1); dorsal spines 11 (29), 12 (11); dorsal rays 12 (30), 13 (10); anal rays 7 (3), 8 (27), 9 (10); transverse scales 18 (3), 19 (4), 20 (13), 21 (9), 22 (6), 23 (5); caudal-peduncle scales 21 (1), 22 (7), 23 (15), 24 (7), 25 (8), 26 (2). Coloration. External surface of lips in live nuptial males mostly brilliant red. Head largely cream to light brown in color with black to dark brown preorbital and postorbital bar, dark dorsal dark brown pigment arranged in vermiculated pattern, ventral half of head generally lacking dark pattern, but often with faint blue cast over gill membranes that can become dark blue to black in peak males. A series of 10 – 13 dark brown to black oval to rectangular lateral blotches expanding to faint diagonal bands on the side of the

Systematics of the Etheostoma cinereum (Teleostei: Percidae) species complex (subgenus Allohistium)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. The Etheostoma cinereum complex is diagnosed from all other darters by having the combination of an elongated, pointy snout, rust to faint red spots in 4 horizontal rows dorsolaterally on the side of the body, dark brown to black oval to rectangular lateral blotches expanding to faint diagonal bands on the side of the body, red pigment on interradial membranes of the soft dorsal fin, and a distal red band of pigment in the spinous dorsal fin. For further diagnoses of this complex (a. k. a. subgenus Allohistium), see Bailey & Gosline (1955) and Page (1981). Etheostoma maydeni is diagnosed from E. cinereum by a conspicuous red pigment on the external surface of the lips (Fig. 5). Etheostoma maydeni also has modally 11 dorsal spines, 12 dorsal rays, and 23 caudal peduncle scales, whereas E. cinereum has modally 12 dorsal spines, 13 dorsal rays, and 25 caudal peduncle scales. Shepard & Burr (1984) also reported modally 41 vertebrae in populations described herein as E. maydeni and with populations of E. cinereum having modally 42 or 43 vertebrae.

Systematics of the Etheostoma cinereum (Teleostei: Percidae) species complex (subgenus Allohistium)

discussion

Comments. Photos of E. maydeni have been published as E. cinereum (Kuehne & Barbour 1983; Shepard & Burr 1984).

Systematics of the Etheostoma cinereum (Teleostei: Percidae) species complex (subgenus Allohistium)