13 replies to this topic

[Casper]

I snapped a few fleeting shots of this constant moving Shiner Sunday.  He swims high in the flowing water column, rushing to and fro.  Years ago i saw about half a dozen males swarming above some kind of big depression nest i the Little Sequatchie, and another time scattered above some submerged woody structure on FortyEight Creek in south central Tennessee.  Recently i have only seen lone males, though perhaps with others of his kind though not sporting the unique breeding tubercules.

 

In late May i captured one and Lance took a few photos, which i will share after the correct guess.

 

I have never seen a good photograph of a breeding male.  They are unique though.

 

Bryce... no comment as you and i have discussed these several times.

 

 

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[Dustin]

Lythrurus lirus?  Mountain shiner?

[Casper]

Dang you are a smart one!  And near terrible pictures with just enough to grab a hint.

 

I am impressed.

 

The Mountain Shiners are more widely spread than one would think and some of the info available by Googling and Peterson's does not jive with my own observations.

 

I hope to get the photo from Lance soon and will share on my updated trip report.

[Dustin]

I remember cathing them in full glory in Alabama once and that head patch of tubercles combined with the Lythrurus head shape stuck with me.  It's a beautiful fish.

[Casper]

Their heads seem to glow blue white, i suspect those shimmering porcelain tubercules catching the light just right.  They swim with both Northern and Southern Studfish so somehow they are one of the species that made the big jump, but that may also explain some of the variation noted in some of the googling i did today.  I look forward to Lance's photo for a clear crispness.  I had forgotten Lance had taken the photo until i saw another Mountain last Sunday.  I emailed him today with my request.  I wonder how they spawn and in what kind of groupings.  The individuals i have seen of late just seemingly wander and scout back and forth in and out of sight with no obvious central focus or precise spot to attend.

[Dustin]

Here is a photo of one that doesn't do justice to those snowy, glowing white tubercles you mentioned.

Attached Files

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[BenCantrell]

Neat fish!

[Josh Blaylock]

It's the blue color on their sides that tip it off for me.  They are a beautiful fish!

[Casper]

While Lance was photographing his River Chub i was able to net this fella.  He has processed the image and prepared it for me to share with you NANFA members.  I have never seen a finer specimen on any of my Google Image wanders.  Masterfully done.  Beautiful, an elegant fish.

 

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Edited by Casper, 18 July 2016 - 01:02 PM.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Wow, Lance is certainly one of the few.

[Isaac Szabo]

Great photo! Interesting how dense its tubercles are. 

[Casper]

Looking down upon them it appears as a solid blue white head.

 

For those that do not know... Lance Merry has photographed ALL the fish species for the upcoming book, Bob Hrabik's "Fishes of Missouri".

The book is in the final stages before printing and it will be a must have for many.

In addition Bob will be our host for the 2017 NANFA convention and it promises to be a great one.

Bob hosted the Show Me State's 2006 NANFA convention which was most excellent in many wonderful ways.  11 years later many and more of us will return.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Apparently fishes of Arkansas is coming out soon as well and our friend and NANFA member Uland Thomas has taken at least a great many of the photos for that book. Very impressive that our members Lance and Uland have perfected their craft to the point that they are doing "Fishes of" books. Really cool.

 

 I assume they are both still members, at least both of them have been multi year members.

[Isaac Szabo]

Yep, Uland and also Dave Neely for the new AR book, and then there's Brian Zimmerman and Nate Tessler for the new OH book. It's neat to see NANFA people involved in these projects.