Sheltowee

I was just reading over the species list for Rockcastle County KY and I noticed the listing of the Sheltowee Darter (Etheostoma Sp. 9). I can't find any photos of this fish or any other info. Does anyone have any pics or any information on this fish?

I was just reading over the species list for Rockcastle County KY and I noticed the listing of the Sheltowee Darter (Etheostoma Sp. 9). I can't find any photos of this fish or any other info. Does anyone have any pics or any information on this fish?

Found this it might take you somewhere www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/kfwis/speciesInfo/speciesListCounty.asp?strScientificName=Etheostoma


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Summary from NatureServe (2008) species account - Accessed via Natureserve.org on 11/16/2008.

Etheostoma sp. 9
Sheltowee Darter
Informal Taxonomy: Animals, Vertebrates - Fishes - Bony Fishes - Perches and Darters
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Animalia Craniata Actinopterygii Perciformes Percidae Etheostoma

Ceas, P. A. 1997. Systematic studies of the orangethroat darter, Etheostoma spectabile complex (Percidae; subgenus Oligocephalus). Ph.D. thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. viii + 157 pp.
Name Used in Concept Reference: Etheostoma sp. 9
Taxonomic Comments: Formerly included in E. SPECTABILE; recognized as an undescribed species by Ceas (1997). Conservation Status NatureServe Status

Global Status: G4G5Q
Abundant in small range in Kentucky; not significantly threatened.
Range Comments: Dix River system (Kentucky River system) in Kentucky (Ceas 1997).

References •Ceas, P. A. 1997. Systematic studies of the orangethroat darter, Etheostoma spectabile complex (Percidae; subgenus Oligocephalus). Ph.D. thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. viii + 157 pp.

I'll further summarize quickly. It was formerly considered an orangethroat darter and was recognized as an undescribed species by Ceas (1997). In the Tennessee and Kentucky area there are several "new" species of orangethroat darters. The only true orangethroats (E. spectable) in Tennessee are ones that can be found in drainages that are direct tributaries to the Mississippi River. I believe the only orangethroats in Kentucky are direct Mississippi and Ohio River tributaries, but not the Red, Cumberland, and Kentucky River. So this specimen from the Kentucky River drainage, the Caney Fork, Cumberland, Tennessee River, etc. are now considered seperate species.

I'll summarize very quickly. It was formerly considered an orangethroat darter and was recognized as an undescribed species by Ceas (1997). In the Tennessee and Kentucky area there are several "new" species of orangethroat darters. The only true orangethroats (E. spectable) in Tennessee are ones that can be found in drainages that are direct tributaries to the Mississippi River. I believe the only orangethroats in Kentucky are direct Mississippi and Ohio River tributaries, but not the Red, Cumberland, and Kentucky River. So this specimen from the Kentucky River drainage, the Caney Fork, Cumberland, Tennessee River, etc. are now considered seperate species.

Please feel free to do whatever you want, figured it was too much, and id get called on it but i wanted to give him all the info i could , Thanks for the help JimV

Possible Sheltowee Darter from Lincoln County KY. I emailed Matt Thomas @ KY Fish and hoping he has some photos of the Sheltowee. Anyways, see what you think. I thought this was a rainbow, but right before I threw it back I noticed the white stripe on the dorsal so I decided to photo it. I haven't made a photo tank, so the pics aren't good...they are in a round cup.









One thing I noticed after looking at the pics, other than the white stripe, is the touch of blue on the top and bottom of the tail fin where the fin meets the body. Maybe this is the Sheltowee, or maybe another variant of the Orangethroat.

Josh,

What's the anal fin coloration? It does look like one. Sheltowee is an orangethroat variant and they do not overlap so if you were in the proper drainage...fish don't exactly recognize imaginary lines I mean county borders...

I had an underneath shot from the cup, but I deleted it. I'm not sure what color the anal fin is. I agree that's it's an orangethroat variant. What do you mean that they do not overlap?

I was in the proper drainage for the Sheltowee, but natureserve doesn't show it in that specific "quad". However, with all the recent rain, I would expect to see some more fish 'down stream' from headwater creeks.

The ranges of the various orangethroat variants do not overlap. You have one or the other, not two or more.

Uland, Drew...any thoughts on this fish?

Josh,

What's the anal fin coloration? It does look like one. Sheltowee is an orangethroat variant and they do not overlap so if you were in the proper drainage...fish don't exactly recognize imaginary lines I mean county borders...

As far as I can tell, it's looks solid blue.

As far as I can tell, it's looks solid blue.

It looks pretty blue to me, and the vertical blotches on the sides are more 'vertical' than diagonal (like they are in Rainbows, E. caeruleum). It looks pretty similar to the ones I've seen, so I'd say it's a Sheltowee.

It looks pretty blue to me, and the vertical blotches on the sides are more 'vertical' than diagonal (like they are in Rainbows, E. caeruleum). It looks pretty similar to the ones I've seen, so I'd say it's a Sheltowee.

After further review of the fish now, the anal fin is solid blue. It has that white stripe on the dorsal. The body looks like a rainbow's, but it has those exceptions. I'm thinking Sheltowee also. Stilling hoping that Matt Thomas @ KY Fish will email me back.