variation in pumpkinseed morphology
#1 Guest_hornpout_*
Posted 29 June 2011 - 09:30 AM
The one in the aquarium colored up nicely a month or two ago, and was really striking- but still his operculum remained soft and dark, and never developed the spot. He appears very healthy and well-fed. ALL of the other hallmarks are present, and there is little chance that these are all hybrid or dozens of incorrect ID's (the only other sunfish in the region are red-breasted, and they are easily differentiated).
A year ago I moved an hour or two south, and lately I've been fishing some different spots. These pumpkinseeds seem more usual, with a more rigid and have a striking red tip. Even fish which are much smaller than the one in my tank have the red tip.
Is this weird, or what? I suppose it's like the copperhead bluegills down south- just a little different. Has anyone else noticed morphological variation in pumpkinseeds from different regions? I wonder how common this is. I'd love to hear about and see pictures of regional strains and funky fish.
I'll post a picture of the guy in the tank soon so you can check him out, if you'd like. Unfortunately the camera will not capture the softness and flexibility of the flap- to appreciate that, you really have to observe it closely in motion.
Thanks in advance, I appreciate all of your expertise.
#2 Guest_wargreen_*
Posted 29 June 2011 - 08:36 PM
Edited by wargreen, 29 June 2011 - 08:38 PM.
#3 Guest_LiquidPyro33_*
Posted 29 September 2012 - 07:50 PM
some pictures would be great,
I have always wondered if there would be different colors, with all the sepation of lakes you would think there would be some differences. At what point do they become different fish? Is it merely hybridization that causes this?
#4 Guest_centrarchid_*
Posted 01 October 2012 - 02:52 PM
Wargreen, you have two distinct types of longear down your way. Bugger to east is a lowland variety like found throughout Mississippi Embayment and into Texas while the other is a central longear that differs from the one I have with orange strip on its nape. The longear in the North Fork White River, those do not sit right with me but not enough info to say what is going on. At one time I though redbreast introduced downstream introgresssed. To me, many many of those fish look redbreastish and do look a bit like longear by redbreast hybrids.
#5 Guest_wargreen_*
Posted 02 October 2012 - 01:57 PM
I agree 100% about the Longears on the White river (beautifull fish); I have recieved alot of flack from stating this but if you look at the Longears in some of the creeks draining into Lake springfield they definately also look like natural hybrids, I just dont know if theyre 1st generation (or if theyre can be more than one generation of hybrids) the other Longear I am referring to are the Longears of the Finley river near Ozark and the Longears of the Little Sac river at Little Sac Woods conservation area in Greene county which seem to have a different color pattern to them.Sometimes intensity / redness of coloration is a function of diet. If crustaceans like amphipods and isopods well repressented, then fish tend to have more color. Fish that are spawning hard, especially females, tend to be duller as pigment stores in skin are transferred to developing eggs.
Wargreen, you have two distinct types of longear down your way. Bugger to east is a lowland variety like found throughout Mississippi Embayment and into Texas while the other is a central longear that differs from the one I have with orange strip on its nape. The longear in the North Fork White River, those do not sit right with me but not enough info to say what is going on. At one time I though redbreast introduced downstream introgresssed. To me, many many of those fish look redbreastish and do look a bit like longear by redbreast hybrids.
Edited by wargreen, 02 October 2012 - 02:00 PM.
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