Darter ID help - Kentucky Coastal Plain region
#1
Posted 12 November 2016 - 11:43 AM
image.jpg 318.15KB 2 downloads
In addition to being a warmouth haven, I found there was an abundance of this darter.
image.jpg 57.58KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 105.17KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 60.88KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 163.51KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 41.82KB 2 downloads
I have wondered if this could be a bluntnose darter but really not sure since there are similarities to the Johnny darter as well. Location of sampling would be the preferred habitat of bluntnose though from what I have read.
Appreciate any input the forum may have on this fish.
#2
Posted 12 November 2016 - 12:09 PM
Looks like one of the swamp darter relatives (Hololepis, a subgenus of Etheostoma), based on the high-arched lateral line just below the front dorsal fin. Maybe Slough darter? Check which others of that group might be in your area.
Gerald Pottern
-----------------------
Hangin' on the Neuse
"Taxonomy is the diaper used to organize the mess of evolution into discrete packages" - M.Sandel
#3
Posted 12 November 2016 - 06:55 PM
Slough darter is probably right on. I have seen them in extreme southern Illinois which is basically the same region. looks right to me.
The member formerly known as Skipjack
#4
Posted 14 November 2016 - 11:25 AM
#5
Posted 15 November 2016 - 11:42 PM
Looks to m like you have two species there... First one is Slough Darter and last two photos look like Cypress Darter. Any sunfish other than warmouth?
Brian J. Zimmerman
Gambier, Ohio - Kokosing River Drainage
#6
Posted 16 November 2016 - 03:47 PM
#7
Posted 17 November 2016 - 12:54 PM
I agree with slough and cypress darters. Did you by chance come across any Elassoma zonatum while sampling out there? Assuming you were out near Wickliffe? I was out that way this past summer collecting for thesis work in Stovall Creek area. Surprised you didn't come across Bantam's.
#8
Posted 18 November 2016 - 03:04 PM
Have not sampled Stovall Creek as of yet but have sampled many of the neighboring creeks in the region. There have been banded pygmys collected from Stovall in years past. Curious if you found any there.
#9
Posted 18 November 2016 - 05:50 PM
For Elassoma try leaf litter and plant beds in shallow water along the shoreline.
Gerald Pottern
-----------------------
Hangin' on the Neuse
"Taxonomy is the diaper used to organize the mess of evolution into discrete packages" - M.Sandel
#10
Posted 25 November 2016 - 10:41 AM
You said you got central longears but could they have been western dollar sunfish, habitat seems very wrong for longears and exactly right for dollars?
Brian J. Zimmerman
Gambier, Ohio - Kokosing River Drainage
#11
Posted 02 December 2016 - 05:52 PM
Better pics of slough darters, green bands more visible here
image.jpg 102.91KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 118.1KB 2 downloads
Some sunfish:
image.jpg 90.23KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 110.12KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 82.9KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 108.82KB 2 downloads
image.jpg 107.89KB 2 downloads
Last two were really small fish, maybe an inch at most. Appreciate input.
#12
Posted 02 December 2016 - 07:24 PM
redears (checkerboard pattern and the red/orange earspot) and greens to me (although I wont be surprised for others to use the H word)
#13
Posted 02 December 2016 - 09:40 PM
That is what I think too mostly. First three redear. Fourth bluegill. Last, seems a bit greenish to me. Maybe just the angle. Maybe the dreaded Hybrid.
The member formerly known as Skipjack
#14
Posted 03 December 2016 - 10:50 AM
Dustin Smith
At the convergence of the Broad, Saluda and Congaree
Lexington, SC
#15
Posted 08 December 2016 - 08:54 PM
Yes redears and if the last two are really tiny I would say just greens not hybrids.
Brian J. Zimmerman
Gambier, Ohio - Kokosing River Drainage
#16
Posted 09 December 2016 - 02:40 PM
Might be Backwater Longears there. Not in these photos, but maybe in the water?
#17
Posted 09 December 2016 - 02:42 PM
I agree with the ID's: Slough, Cypress, Redear, Green Sunfish, likely hybrid on the last one.
#18
Posted 11 December 2016 - 12:09 AM
Thanks folks for the ID help.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users