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Odd Darter


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#1 Guest_Carl_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 06:17 PM

Caught this guy yesterday in Geauga county Ohio. I'm not sure of his ID what do you think?

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#2 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 07:02 PM

It's a male fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare).

#3 Guest_Skipjack_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 07:23 PM

Wow! great photo! I am 100% sure that that is no fantail. Seems similar to a johnny in full spawn, but I am not 100%, from the photo, it seems off. It is a very odd darter IMO also.

#4 Guest_Carl_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 07:24 PM

It's a male fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare).

I'm certainly not disagreeing but this is what I've always thought to be a male Fantail darter.

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#5 Guest_Skipjack_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 07:30 PM

Actually, I think it is a johnny.

#6 Guest_teleost_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 08:21 PM

It looks like a johnny to me as well but lacks the distinct barring a male would exhibit with such dark coloration.
Seems odd to me but I'm no expert.

#7 Guest_Kanus_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 08:27 PM

Definately has a completely different face from a fantail. Otherwise it does look like some breeding male fantails I've found.

#8 Guest_Brooklamprey_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 08:33 PM

It looks like a Johnny to me.. all the proportions are correct. Coloration is odd but the rest of the fish is not...

#9 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 09:10 PM

You guys are right. I was thinking that all along and my fingers decided to type something different than what my brain was telling me. Been a while since my feet were in water in that area. They are pretty common in alot of the smaller streams in Geauga, western Cuyahoga, and Portage County in the area where the headwaters of the Mahoning, Grand tribs, etc. all get relatively close.

#10 Guest_Carl_*

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Posted 01 April 2007 - 09:49 PM

Johnnys are certainly common enough and the shape is right. I've just never seen one with this coloration before. There were several with this coloration caught. along with several normal looking Johnnys. I'll go with Johnny unless someone has a another plan.

#11 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 02 April 2007 - 02:57 AM

Carl,

That's definitely a male Johnny Darter in full spawning coloration-mode. I've caught them like that before. The first time I caught one I was totally stumped. But after he got out of spawning-mode, the ID was quite easy. I'm sure you'll see the same thing. Great picture!

#12 Guest_smbass_*

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Posted 02 April 2007 - 10:49 PM

yep male johnny darter... They can be very dark colored when spawning, here is a male guarding eggs in a tank.

Attached File  male_Johnny_darter_garding_eggs_1_by_BZ.jpg   19.33KB   0 downloads
Attached File  breeding_male_Johnny_Darter_from_Potter_Creek_by_BZ.jpg   34.95KB   0 downloads

#13 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 05 April 2007 - 10:48 PM

Hybrid!




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