5 replies to this topic

[JasonL]

Found a large group of these today in a very small creek that drains into the lower Tennessee River a few miles from this location. Some of these were pushing 3 inches in length. Wonder about Spottail Darter.

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Thoughts?

[itsme]

Hmm, what is the range of Etheostoma kennicotti?  What is the zip code near the collection site? 

[JasonL]

42003 zip code. That said, I think we are just outside the range for Etheostoma kennicotti. Not reported here in the past by KDFWR and other resources I have found.

Spottails are actually not pictured in Petersons's and are fairly restricted geographically but have been found in this area in the past apparently. Looked at one of Ben Cantrells blogs and saw one pictured that looked similar that's why I wondered. Whatever it is, it is a new species for me.

[itsme]

Can you post a link to bens blog or his photo?

[Matt DeLaVega]

Dark collecting bucket will help them hold color Jason. I am not sure, but they look more like squamiceps than kennicotti to me. Been a coon's age since I have seen either.

[fundulus]

They're definitely not kennicotti, based on both size (kennicotti are smallish) and there's no black subterminal band on the first dorsal. Squamiceps is the best guess from available evidence.