Jump to content


Online references for Pteronotropis sp id & natural history?


10 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_mikez_*

Guest_mikez_*
  • Guests

Posted 15 June 2014 - 07:32 AM

I've searched the forum and NANFA archives and done some googling, still not finding as much info on this group as I'd like [not counting changing taxonomy, which doesn't interest me].

I collected a group of what I believed to be Pteronotropis hypselopterus, sailfin shiners, but which in coloring up appear to be flagfin. Also, I stopped at the next stream on the same road, looking just like the last, and grabbed a few more that looked identical. Took two weeks in my tank before I began to suspect they were different and now everybody is coloring up and getting full bodies and they are clearly different. So similar at a glance, but no doubt a hole nuther animal.

I do have pics which I will get up here eventually. Unfortunately, my camera had died during my trip so my photos are only from when I got home. I understand they would not be allowed in the id forum.
Streams were tribs to the Blackwater river in Fl, north side.

I also regret not having enough time actually in the stream observing the shiners and habitat. That's why I'm looking for natural history or any personal observation.

I'm already deeply in love with these fish. Fascinating behavior, different from the stream minnows I'm used to yet also so similar. The flagfins [if that's what they are] are getting big wide bodies and coloring up. One male looks like a tropical and rules the roost. I'm setting up a tank to get some fry. Hope to have these guys a long time.
Any insight, observations, links or even name of a good book would be greatly appreciated.

#2 Guest_Nearctic_*

Guest_Nearctic_*
  • Guests

Posted 15 June 2014 - 01:07 PM

http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/158834004X

#3 Guest_NotCousteau_*

Guest_NotCousteau_*
  • Guests

Posted 15 June 2014 - 06:44 PM

I really like this site called The Encyclopedia of Life: http://eol.org


#4 Guest_mikez_*

Guest_mikez_*
  • Guests

Posted 16 June 2014 - 06:15 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Fishes-Alabama-Edward-O-Wilson/dp/158834004X


Thanks, got one on the way.

#5 Guest_mikez_*

Guest_mikez_*
  • Guests

Posted 16 June 2014 - 06:15 AM

I really like this site called The Encyclopedia of Life: http://eol.org


Thanks, that's worth a bookmark.


#6 Guest_NotCousteau_*

Guest_NotCousteau_*
  • Guests

Posted 16 June 2014 - 11:48 AM

You're welcome. It really is a great resource.

#7 Guest_mikez_*

Guest_mikez_*
  • Guests

Posted 18 June 2014 - 08:20 PM

Whoa, just got Fishes of Alabama. Holy crap! I'm a serious book geek by any standard. Natural history books being just one side geekism, books with art, big books, books with stories, FISH BOOKS! This one has it knocked in all catagories. Can't believe what I paid, must be, lb for lb, best friginn book bargin I ever got. Same applies if you apply $ value to natural history facts, or art. A treasure.

Looks like the bulk of my shiners are flagfin, a few must be sailfin. I'm good with that. Went looking for sailfin, found the flagfin instead, like 'em better.
Now to set up my vegetated riffle tank and get some little ones...

#8 Guest_fundulus_*

Guest_fundulus_*
  • Guests

Posted 19 June 2014 - 08:04 AM

The fact that the book is published by the Smithsonian keeps the price way down. I use it as a textbook for my summer school Ichthyology class, the students are floored that they can find a huge textbook for no more than fifty-some dollars.

#9 Guest_mikez_*

Guest_mikez_*
  • Guests

Posted 21 June 2014 - 09:29 AM

The fact that the book is published by the Smithsonian keeps the price way down. I use it as a textbook for my summer school Ichthyology class, the students are floored that they can find a huge textbook for no more than fifty-some dollars.


I blame my parents for not putting me in a place where I could have taken classes that used such as a text book. Just think how I might have turned out...


#10 Guest_jetajockey_*

Guest_jetajockey_*
  • Guests

Posted 12 September 2014 - 03:13 AM

Which streams did you visit? I'm local to Blackwater and I've found quite a few pt.hypselopterus but pt.signipinnis has been a little more hit and miss. I've spent a bit of time both on coldwater and juniper creek poking around, both locations are a lot of fun.

#11 Guest_mikez_*

Guest_mikez_*
  • Guests

Posted 12 September 2014 - 08:03 AM

I'm ashamed to admit I was in such a hurry, I failed to mark the exact locations of the streams. Thought I'd be able to figure it out later from Google maps but not as easy as I thought.
Both streams were off the same road [which I'll name to you via PM if you're interested] and they were the only two we crossed that were small enough to check quickly but not slow and weedy swamps. My memory is the two streams were next to each other but going back to the map, I see a few in the area and can't tell which was which.

My current plan is to return next spring to the same area so if you're up for going out PM your contact info.

On a related note, I have had one unsuccessful spawn from my flagfins. Unsuccessful cause of me. I left them in too long, let snails get out of hand so most eggs and fry got eaten, then the few fry I saved apparently died when the tank got up into the 80s F. The adults are back in the tank display tank for now and are already fatting up. I'm working on a bigger breeding tank and getting rid of snails.



Reply to this topic



  


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users