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Picture comparisons of different species?

Started by Guest_jetajockey_* , Jun 09 2011 10:41 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_jetajockey_*

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Posted 09 June 2011 - 10:41 PM

Was just wondering if anyone had some side by side picture comparisons for the different elassoma species? An area that I've been frequenting has both zonatum and evergladei, and possibly gilberti all in the same spot so I'm trying to get a good picture reference to work with to help segregate them. Obvious differences between the species both M and F would be quite helpful.

I do have a field guide but it's still difficult so any real world experience/advice would be great.

Also on a side note, what exactly is the 'tear drop' on the e. zonatum? mentioned by the field guide?

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#2 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 10 June 2011 - 11:57 AM

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#3 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 10 June 2011 - 02:15 PM

The "teardrop" is the vertical dark marking below the eye. Lots of fish have it- Gambusia, pickerel, fliers, Enneacanthus, various killies and darters, etc.

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#4 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 10 June 2011 - 02:35 PM

The "teardrop" is the vertical dark marking below the eye. Lots of fish have it- Gambusia, pickerel, fliers, Enneacanthus, various killies and darters, etc.

Indeed. This female banded darter has a noticable tear drop, for example: http://www.dnr.state...R2009 by BZ.jpg
Here's a zonatum with that tear drop: http://www.minifisch...oma-zonatum.jpg

Edited by EricaWieser, 10 June 2011 - 02:36 PM.

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#5 Guest_jetajockey_*

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Posted 10 June 2011 - 06:20 PM

Indeed. This female banded darter has a noticable tear drop, for example: http://www.dnr.state...R2009 by BZ.jpg
Here's a zonatum with that tear drop: http://www.minifisch...oma-zonatum.jpg

Thanks for the links. Once I get a better idea of what I'm looking at, species wise, I will likely put together a side by side comparison page with the key differences highlighted just to make it easy. It appears that i.d.ing them isn't crazy hard, but the females seem to make it a little more difficult. I may take pics of a few that I'm not 100% on and get some opinions.

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#6 Guest_Dustin_*

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 09:21 AM

Bandeds are easy to distinguish because they are, well, banded. The other two species will not show prominent vertical banding. The bar through the eye is also a very good characteristic to look for on the bandeds as the other two don't get that. I can tell the difference between female evergladei and gilberti better than males unless the males are super colored. The female evergladei will have a creamy color with small speckling n the flank. The female gilberti(okefenokee) will also be creamy colored but usually a little darker and have dark mottling rather than speckling.

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#7 Guest_jetajockey_*

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Posted 05 July 2011 - 02:19 AM

The female evergladei will have a creamy color with small speckling n the flank. The female gilberti(okefenokee) will also be creamy colored but usually a little darker and have dark mottling rather than speckling.

This is what I need to take reference pics of to help get a good idea of what I'm looking at.