pygmy sunfish experts-

Okay, here we go. Help me out here, if you would.




E.gilberti (F) ?


E.evergladei (M)? (not a bad photo )


E.evergladei (F)?? left and right

E.evergladei (M) ? left


Sorry about the blurry photos, the dslr seems to have trouble focusing in really close when the battery is low. Thanks in advance!

I don't think that first fish is an Elassoma gilberti. The body seems a bit too long (but that just might be its intense skinniness) and the nose seems a bit too short (but that could just be the angle). And it's not humped enough before the dorsal fin.
Here are pictures of a female Elassoma gilberti:
http://gallery.nanfa...female.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa... photo.jpg.html

Do you have any more photos of it? Preferably one where you can count the rays in the fins. I think it's an E. evergladei but we'd know for sure if we could count its rays.

Where was it collected? The only collection spots of Elassoma gilberti are listed on page 18 of 28, page 136 of this journal article: http://biology.unm.e...et al. 2009.pdf

Edited by EricaWieser, 25 July 2011 - 08:29 PM.

I don't think that first fish is an Elassoma gilberti. The body seems a bit too long (but that just might be its intense skinniness) and the nose seems a bit too short (but that could just be the angle). And it's not humped enough before the dorsal fin.
Here are pictures of a female Elassoma gilberti:
http://gallery.nanfa...female.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa... photo.jpg.html

Do you have any more photos of it? Preferably one where you can count the rays in the fins. I think it's an E. evergladei but we'd know for sure if we could count its rays.

Where was it collected? The only collection spots of Elassoma gilberti are listed on page 18 of 28, page 136 of this journal article: http://biology.unm.e...et al. 2009.pdf

Hopefully I can find the charger for the camera, I'll definitely post clearer pics. The spot I collected these is part of the choctawhatchee bay drainage, only about a mile west of where I found some confirmed e.gilberti males previously.

Hopefully I can find the charger for the camera, I'll definitely post clearer pics. The spot I collected these is part of the choctawhatchee bay drainage, only about a mile west of where I found some confirmed e.gilberti males previously.

Choctawhatchee can have both Elassoma gilberti and Elassoma evergladei, this is true. (Sources: http://biology.unm.e...et al. 2009.pdf and http://www.outdooral...gmy/everglades/ )

But I don't think that's a gilberti. It looks way more like an evergladei based on its long body shape.

If you can see scales on the top of its head, it's an evergladei. Evergladei usually have 5 anal fin rays and 9 dorsal rays (source: New Pygmy Sunfish from Southern Georgia: Notulae Naturae of The Acad. of Natural Sciences of Phila., No. 294. ISBN: 9781604832945, link: http://books.google....in rays&f=false ). That's why a picture that shows fin rays would immediately answer the question of identification.

Edited by EricaWieser, 26 July 2011 - 12:59 AM.

Choctawhatchee can have both Elassoma gilberti and Elassoma evergladei, this is true. (Sources: http://biology.unm.e...et al. 2009.pdf and http://www.outdooral...gmy/everglades/ )

But I don't think that's a gilberti. It looks way more like an evergladei based on its long body shape.

If you can see scales on the top of its head, it's an evergladei. Evergladei usually have 5 anal fin rays and 9 dorsal rays (source: New Pygmy Sunfish from Southern Georgia: Notulae Naturae of The Acad. of Natural Sciences of Phila., No. 294. ISBN: 9781604832945, link: http://books.google....in rays&f=false ). That's why a picture that shows fin rays would immediately answer the question of identification.

The 'scales on the head' thing I noticed in the field guide reference also. I guess I need to put one under a magnifying glass to get a good look because I haven't seen it yet (not exactly sure what its supposed to look like though lol).

Looks like I may be in the freeport/panama city beach area this upcoming friday so I may do a little digging around in the snake, spider, and alligator infested water to see what else I can come up with while I'm there.