10 replies to this topic

[zooxanthellae]

I caught this killifish in a saltmarsh ditch near the SC/NC border in Brunswick Co. I thought at first it was F. luciae (which I have been hunting for a few years unsuccessfully), but after taking it home and photographing it, something isn't right. 

 

Counts: 

Dorsal 11

Anal 10

Pelvic 6

 

Dorsal and anal fin origins are pretty much directly above each other. 

 

Am I correct in calling this F. pulvereus? I could only locate one record of this fish on the Atlantic coast (Georgia), even though Fishbase says the range is from VA to TX, which is why I'm doubting. 

Just in case there are any issues with me posting an unidentified fish that I brought home, I am properly licensed to collect any saltmarsh fundulids in NC.

 

The white dots on the fins are some sort of parasite, too small for me to see. Anyone recognize this fish? 

 

Attached Files

•  Fundulus-pulvereus.png   380.29KB   1 downloads

[Matt DeLaVega]

Thanks for the disclaimer, but it looks like a Lance Merry field photo to me. Really, excellent photo. If you haven't, please post it in our gallery archive as soon as you have a positive ID.

 

 Sorry, I can't help you on the ID, just compliment your photo.

[mattknepley]

Ditto what DLV said.

[zooxanthellae]

Thanks for the disclaimer, but it looks like a Lance Merry field photo to me. Really, excellent photo. If you haven't, please post it in our gallery archive as soon as you have a positive ID.

 

 Sorry, I can't help you on the ID, just compliment your photo.

 

 

Ditto what DLV said.

 

Thanks for the kind words! After a few rounds with some guys on facebook, I think it is just an oddly colored F. confluentus. My key led me to pick between two fish, F. pulvereus, and F. confluentus. Although this looks nothing like the myriad confluentus I've collected in NC, all signs point that way. I'm going to grow  him up and see if anything changes. Thanks for the help!

[gerald]

confluciae.   Post another pic as it grows up.

[zooxanthellae]

confluciae

 

Lol, took me a second! You never know...

[gerald]

Boschung & Mayden's  Fishes of Alabama (2004) indicates F. confluentus (Marsh kilifish) range exclusively in FL and adjacent AL east of Mobile bay.  They show F. pulvereus (Bayou killifish) extending north up the east coast to VA and west along the gulf coast to TX.  Should our GA, SC, NC, VA populations of "confluentus" be called "pulvereus" instead?  Or do other Fundulus taxonomists not agree with their conclusion?

 

Edit:  Murdy and Musick, 2013. Field guide to fishes of the Chesapeake Bay. JHU Press, 360 p. agrees with Boschung & Mayden that VA to GA pops are F. pulvereus, as stated in FishBase: 

 

F. pulvereus range:  Western Atlantic: From the lower Chesapeake Bay to the St. Johns River in northern Florida; In northern coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, from Alabama to Corpus Christi, Texas in the USA (Ref. 93252). Replaced by Fundulus confluentus in Florida (Ref. 93252).

[zooxanthellae]

Boschung & Mayden's  Fishes of Alabama (2004) indicates F. confluentus (Marsh kilifish) range exclusively in FL and adjacent AL east of Mobile bay.  They show F. pulvereus (Bayou killifish) extending north up the east coast to VA and west along the gulf coast to TX.  Should our GA, SC, NC, VA populations of "confluentus" be called "pulvereus" instead?  Or do other Fundulus taxonomists not agree with their conclusion?

 

Edit:  Murdy and Musick, 2013. Field guide to fishes of the Chesapeake Bay. JHU Press, 360 p. agrees with Boschung & Mayden that VA to GA pops are F. pulvereus, as stated in FishBase: 

 

F. pulvereus range:  Western Atlantic: From the lower Chesapeake Bay to the St. Johns River in northern Florida; In northern coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, from Alabama to Corpus Christi, Texas in the USA (Ref. 93252). Replaced by Fundulus confluentus in Florida (Ref. 93252).

 

Interesting, we checked your fishes of alabama quote, it definitely says that! I was talking with Fritz a few days ago about it, and he suggests that F. pulvereus is strictly gulf coast, so the east coast records (including museum records) must be in error. I wonder if pulvereus and confluentus were split recently? Where are Doug Stuber and Ken Normandin when you need them!? 

[Michael Wolfe]

Check out the Catalog of Fishes on line: http://researcharchi...fishcatmain.asp

 

According to the Catalog of Fishes...

 

funduloides, Zygonectes Evermann [B. W.] 1892:85, Pl. 35 (fig. 3) [Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission v. 11(art. 2) (for 1891); ref. 12391] Dickinson Bayou, Dickinson, Texas, U.S.A. Lectotype: USNM 45563. Paralectotypes: USNM 45563 (1 of 2). Lectotype established (as figured specimen) in caption to Pl. 106, p. 3255 in Jordan & Evermann 1900 [ref. 2446] if figured specimen is identifiable. •Synonym of Fundulus pulvereus (Evermann 1892) -- (Wildekamp 1996:292 [ref. 23649], Lazara 2001:159 [ref. 25711]). Current status: Synonym ofFundulus pulvereus (Evermann 1892). Fundulidae. Habitat: brackish, marine.

pulvereus, Zygonectes Evermann [B. W.] 1892:85, Pl. 36 (fig. 1) [Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission v. 11(art. 2) (for 1891); ref. 12391] Dickinson Bayou, Dickinson; Buffalo Bayou, Houston; the mouth of Oso Creek, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.A. Lectotype: USNM 45561 (1 of 2). Paralectotypes: (10) FMNH 1983 (1), CAS-SU 68901 [ex CAS-SU 1122] (1), USNM 126758 (6). Lectotype established (as figured specimen) in caption to Pl. 107, p. 3255 in Jordan & Evermann 1900 [ref. 2446] if figured specimen is identifiable. •Possible synonym ofFundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879 -- (Lee et al. 1980:512, 525 [ref. 22416]). •Valid as Fundulus pulvereus (Evermann 1892) -- (Robins & Ray 1986:109 [ref. 23100], Boschung 1992:88 [ref. 23239], Wildekamp 1996:292 [ref. 23649], McEachran & Fechhelm 1998:915 [ref.23897], Castro-Aguirre et al. 1999:222 [ref. 24550], Lazara 2001:159 [ref. 25711], Ross et al. 2001:368 [ref. 25978], Wiley & Ghedotti 2003:1150 [ref. 27020], Nelson et al. 2004:102 [ref. 27807], Boschung & Mayden 2004:398 [ref. 27995], Scharpf 2007:15 [ref. 30398], Lang et al. 2011:2 [ref. 31335], Ghedotti & Davis 2013:58 [ref. 32490] in subgenus Fundulus, Page et al. 2013:106 [ref. 32708]). Current status: Valid as Fundulus pulvereus (Evermann 1892). Fundulidae. Distribution: Southeastern U.S.A. Habitat: brackish, marine.

 

and 

 

bartrami, Fundulus Fowler [H. W.] 1941:235, Figs. 8-9 [Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 92 (for 1940); ref. 13235] Outlet of mineral spring, south side of Lake Jessup about 2 miles from the west end, Seminole County, Florida, U.S.A. Holotype (unique): ANSP 69158. Type catalog: Böhlke 1984:95 [ref. 13621]. •Synonym of Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879 -- (Wildekamp 1996:241 [ref. 23649], Lazara 2001:144 [ref. 25711]). Current status: Synonym of Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879. Fundulidae. Habitat: freshwater, brackish, marine.

chaplini, Fundulus Fowler [H. W.] 1940:8, Pl. 1 (right fig.) [Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 92; ref. 1435] Boca Grande, Florida, U.S.A. Holotype: ANSP 69141. Paratypes: ANSP 69142 (1). Type catalog: Böhlke 1984:95 [ref. 13621]. •Synonym of Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879 -- (Wildekamp 1996:241 [ref. 23649], Lazara 2001:144 [ref. 25711]). Current status: Synonym of Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879. Fundulidae. Habitat: freshwater, brackish, marine.

confluentus, Fundulus Goode [G. B.] & Bean [T. H.] in Goode 1879:118 [Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 2 (no. 73); ref. 1836] Lake Monroe, about 28°49'N, 81°17'W, Florida, U.S.A. Holotype (unique): USNM 18065. •Valid as Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879 -- (Lee et al. 1980:512 [ref. 22416], Robins & Ray 1986:108 [ref. 23100], Boschung 1992:86 [ref. 23239], Murdy et al. 1997:127 [ref. 23144], Wildekamp 1996:241 [ref. 23649], McEachran & Fechhelm 1998:907 [ref. 23897], Lazara 2001:143 [ref. 25711], Wiley & Ghedotti 2003:1150 [ref. 27020], Nelson et al. 2004:102 [ref. 27807], Boschung & Mayden 2004:390 [ref. 27995], Scharpf 2007:12 [ref. 30398], Page & Burr 2011:437 [ref. 31215], Lang et al. 2011:2 [ref. 31335], Ghedotti & Davis 2013:58 [ref. 32490] in subgenus Fundulus, Page et al. 2013:105 [ref. 32708]). Current status: Valid as Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879. Fundulidae. Distribution: Southeastern U.S.A.: Florida and Alabama. Habitat: freshwater, brackish, marine.

ocellaris, Fundulus Jordan [D. S.] & Gilbert [C. H.] 1882:254 [Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 5 (no. 282); ref. 2472] Laguna Grande at Pensacola, Florida, U.S.A. Syntypes: (about 15) MCZ 35997 [ex USNM 29667] (1); CAS-SU 2177 (2); USNM 29667 (5), 30853 (4, not found in 1980). Type catalog: Böhlke 1953:53 [ref. 12291]. •Synonym of Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879 -- (Wildekamp 1996:241 [ref. 23649], Lazara 2001:144 [ref. 25711]). Current status: Synonym of Fundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879. Fundulidae. Habitat: freshwater, brackish, marine.

pulvereus, Zygonectes Evermann [B. W.] 1892:85, Pl. 36 (fig. 1) [Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission v. 11(art. 2) (for 1891); ref. 12391] Dickinson Bayou, Dickinson; Buffalo Bayou, Houston; the mouth of Oso Creek, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.A. Lectotype: USNM 45561 (1 of 2). Paralectotypes: (10) FMNH 1983 (1), CAS-SU 68901 [ex CAS-SU 1122] (1), USNM 126758 (6). Lectotype established (as figured specimen) in caption to Pl. 107, p. 3255 in Jordan & Evermann 1900 [ref. 2446] if figured specimen is identifiable. •Possible synonym ofFundulus confluentus Goode & Bean 1879 -- (Lee et al. 1980:512, 525 [ref. 22416]). •Valid as Fundulus pulvereus (Evermann 1892) -- (Robins & Ray 1986:109 [ref. 23100], Boschung 1992:88 [ref. 23239], Wildekamp 1996:292 [ref. 23649], McEachran & Fechhelm 1998:915 [ref.23897], Castro-Aguirre et al. 1999:222 [ref. 24550], Lazara 2001:159 [ref. 25711], Ross et al. 2001:368 [ref. 25978], Wiley & Ghedotti 2003:1150 [ref. 27020], Nelson et al. 2004:102 [ref. 27807], Boschung & Mayden 2004:398 [ref. 27995], Scharpf 2007:15 [ref. 30398], Lang et al. 2011:2 [ref. 31335], Ghedotti & Davis 2013:58 [ref. 32490] in subgenus Fundulus, Page et al. 2013:106 [ref. 32708]). Current status: Valid as Fundulus pulvereus (Evermann 1892). Fundulidae. Distribution: Southeastern U.S.A. Habitat: brackish, marine.

 

So if I read some of that correctly, it looks like for a while they were synonyms

[gerald]

So maybe there should be 3 taxa in the confluentus / pulvereus complex ?  1) VA-GA, 2) FL-Mobile, 3) Mobile-TX ???   The distinguishing features in Boshung and Mayden (2004) mainly deal with pattern and width of bars on the side; there's not much meristic difference to go on.   Also, that book is intended to distinguish the two taxa in the vicinity of AL and FL panhandle.  I wouldn't expect the same color pattern differences that "work" in that area to also be reliable indicator on the Atlantic side. 

[zooxanthellae]

So maybe there should be 3 taxa in the confluentus / pulvereus complex ?  1) VA-GA, 2) FL-Mobile, 3) Mobile-TX ???   The distinguishing features in Boshung and Mayden (2004) mainly deal with pattern and width of bars on the side; there's not much meristic difference to go on.   Also, that book is intended to distinguish the two taxa in the vicinity of AL and FL panhandle.  I wouldn't expect the same color pattern differences that "work" in that area to also be reliable indicator on the Atlantic side. 

 

The more I look into it, the more confused I get. Although I haven't had the chance to yet read all 65 pages, Ghedotti and Davis did extensive classification work in 2013. They list this distribution map on page 51 (attached). If this is correct, confluentus is restricted to Florida. 

 

 

Michael J. Ghedotti and Matthew P. Davis

Phylogeny, Classification, and Evolution of Salinity Tolerance of the North American Topminnows and Killifishes, Family Fundulidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes)

Fieldiana Life and Earth Sciences February 2013 : Number 7, pg(s) 1-65

DOI: 10.3158/2158-5520-12.7.1

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