2 replies to this topic

[MichaelAngelo]

As I understand, these two species can be distinguished from an anal ray count.  I'm not sure how to do a proper one and whether or not to count the short anterior ray(s) in the number?

 

Since these two fish were caught in a creek near Alexandria, VA, I think I can rule out sand shiner based on range?

 

Fish 1:

 

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Fish 2:

 

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Edited by MichaelAngelo, 09 May 2016 - 01:02 PM.

[Dustin]

Swallowtails.  If you look from above at these guys, you should see two distinct spots on the back, one on each end of the dorsal fin.

[gerald]

I'll agree with that.  But watch out also for juvenile spottail shiners (hudsonius) which often school with and look very much like swallowtails.  In the Cape Fear basin i've had to sort out mixed schools of swallowtail, spottail, whitemouth, coastal, and Cape Fear shiners, all of which look pretty similar at first glance, with 7 or 8 anal rays and semi-translucent sand-colored body.