6 replies to this topic

[mattknepley]

Yeah, we're rolling again! Thanks to the techies for working so hard on this stuff. I could never make any of it happen. Funny how spoilt we get. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed and took for granted the forum until I couldn't use parts of it!

But onward. Some days ago I made a quick trip to the town park in Ware Shoals, SC. This is a reasonably elevated section of the Piedmont, and the Saluda River runs over a long stretch of shoals here. It makes for fun swimming and fish-based activities. However, the water was pretty darn high from all the rains we've had, but not flooding. All the same I figured discretion was the better part of valor and stuck to the shorelines. Wielded the dipnet with enthusiasm along the banks and in a slack water area between a small island and shore. Hit pay dirt a couple of times. A small drainage ditch had receded enough to trap several small fish in a pool. Turned out to be Creek chubs. (Did them the favor of repatriating them to the river.)

What I need help with are the following animals. The first characters I think I have nailed down as Redeye bass, Micropterus coosae. Fritz says in his book it has been introduced into the Saluda, but Peterson's says it's apparently extinct in the Saluda. Given the gap between dorsal fins, coloration of dorsals and caudals, and pattern, I think I'm ok with my Redeye id. If behaviors are any indicators, these were the most fiesty, least cooperative fish I've ever had in net or photo tank.  P7240381.JPG   43.15KB   4 downloads  P7240382.JPG   39.09KB   2 downloads  P7240406.JPG   81.65KB   1 downloads  P7240412.JPG   75.35KB   1 downloads
Any confirmations or rebuttals?

Next is this darter. I can't make heads or tails of it. It is very narrow bodied compared to my Christmases and Carolinas. It has a long snout, and appears more comfortable off the bottom than any other darters I have. (Although from certain angles the snout looks very blunt, like E. olmstedi.) A Percina, perhaps? At feeding time, especially, it seems content to cruise the mid water levels looking for food. Its dorsum is not saddled; it's reticulated. When its feeling especially good, the black marks are very dark, forming blocks that extend almost to the belly while the upper tan marks are very bright. It almost looks like tire tracks. The lateral line is straight, and complete; I think. When I first had it in the photo tank, it looked all the world like a skinny tessellated. It wasn't until a day or two in the aquarium that he settled down and showed the colors, snout length, and behaviors I describe.

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Lastly is this neat little cray. Have no idea on it, either. Most crayfish I come across here look like little lobsters; this one looks more narrow, like a little shrimp.

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Thanks for the looks and insight.

And thanks to the powers that be for keeping us up to snuff in the tech dept!

[mattknepley]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Dustin, what should I be looking for in the darter pics to id this guy as P. crassa? Anything other than the characteristics I mentioned? I'm curious, because based on the pointed face, straight lateral line, dark blocks, and collection location, Piedmont darter was the only darter I couldn't rule out. But I just couldn't make it look like one to me. Those two dark stripes on the first dorsal threw me, too. Maybe my tessellated first impression was too strong for me to see it for what it is. Would like to be a little more competent out on site...