I was wondering if anyone could show or explain to me some examples of the differences in appearance between shield darters percina peltata and tessellated darters etheostoma olmstedi. Obviously they differ in genus but most p.peltata pictures I have seen look very similar to e.olmstedi. I have a pretty good eye for detail and fish ID is usually pretty easy for me but I have yet to figure this one out. Do p.peltata have a sharper, pointy head typical of percina darters?
Shield darter ID vs. Tessellated darter?
Started by
Guest_bart_*
, Nov 18 2009 07:54 PM
10 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Kanus_*
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Posted 19 November 2009 - 01:07 AM
Pointier, typical Percina head shape, black pigmentation on the first dorsal fin, and a much more recognizable pattern on the side, as opposed to the tessellated darter, which is more of a "peppered" look I would say. Also, when seen in the water/aquaria, the Shield darters are very much less benthically associated, and spend much of their time up in the water column hanging out with shiners and such. I just found some REALLY good pictures that I had not come across before, so here they are...
Shield Darter
Tessellated Darter
Shield Darter
Tessellated Darter
#3
Guest_ashtonmj_*
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Posted 19 November 2009 - 09:51 AM
Yes, very different fish and will come from different microhabitats. Check out the Key to the Freshwater Fishes of Maryland (PDF is online) if you'd like the nitty gritty details. Shield darters have very well defined lateral blotches and a vertical bar on the underside of their mouth of black pigment. The shape and details of their dorsal and caudal fins are also quite different.
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#4
Guest_Kanus_*
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Posted 19 November 2009 - 11:26 AM
Hey Matt, perhaps I'm hijacking the thread a little bit, but do you have any good comparison photos of a Shield Darter vs. a Stripeback Darter? I'm pretty sure I've come across both around here, but I'd like a more definite idea which is which, and can't find a good stripeback picture anywhere (that was the first really good Shield picture I've seen, actually).
#5
Guest_ashtonmj_*
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Posted 19 November 2009 - 01:20 PM
I'll take a look in the photolibrary. You probably have seen both since stripeback are far for more common down there than here. For one, stripeback darters do not have any chin pigments like the one in my hand. That specific shield darter is actually a little on the weak side of chin pigmentation IMO. Others have a well defined black bar. There are differences in the saddling, blotching, and dorsal fin colors too.
Seems as though we don't have a photo or I can't find it for the time being.
Seems as though we don't have a photo or I can't find it for the time being.
Edited by ashtonmj, 19 November 2009 - 01:26 PM.
#6
Guest_bart_*
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Posted 19 November 2009 - 08:33 PM
Thanks for the replies and the great photos Matt and Kanus. The Maryland fish key was pretty cool too. I spent a good bit of time checking that out. The photos and descriptions seem to clear things up a bit for me. There really isn't much in the way of p.peltata pictures out there like there is for some of the more popular darters.
I would like to catch one for my darter tank. Collecting in the type of habitat they seem to prefer has proven rather difficult for my methods. Maybe I need to try using a seine in a very small creek as opposed to a dip net? Any suggestions? Anyone want to PM me a good place to look in my area?
I would like to catch one for my darter tank. Collecting in the type of habitat they seem to prefer has proven rather difficult for my methods. Maybe I need to try using a seine in a very small creek as opposed to a dip net? Any suggestions? Anyone want to PM me a good place to look in my area?
#7
Guest_ashtonmj_*
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Posted 20 November 2009 - 07:35 AM
Well you're not likely to find them in a really small creek. They are found in larger streams and rivers. I'd give you a standing ovation if you were able to catch one solo.
Edited by ashtonmj, 20 November 2009 - 07:36 AM.
#8
Guest_Kanus_*
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Posted 20 November 2009 - 09:45 AM
Yeah, I'll second this. I caught one seining by myself once, but it was pretty much just a fluke, and for being a big strong guy, I got about 3 seine hauls in that fast current before I was unable to lift the net out of the water. Definitely a fish better caught with a small team.I'd give you a standing ovation if you were able to catch one solo.
#9
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 20 November 2009 - 11:00 AM
To catch shield/chainback darters solo: Not easy, but possible. Get a small seine 4 ft high by 4 to 6 ft long. Stand at the bottom end of a riffle just above a pool, facing downstream. Drop the seine in and quickly push it ahead of you downstream 5 to 10 ft into the pool. Lift quickly while still moving downstream; dont stop moving forward. Good method for mid-water darters, shiners, dace, chubs, others that feed at the riffle/pool transition zone. Unlike Kanus i'm a little scrawny guy and have caught quite a few chainbacks (southern equivalent of shield) this way. Usually in creeks 20 ft or wider; not in small headwater tribs.
Yeah, I'll second this. I caught one seining by myself once, but it was pretty much just a fluke, and for being a big strong guy, I got about 3 seine hauls in that fast current before I was unable to lift the net out of the water. Definitely a fish better caught with a small team.
#11
Guest_Kanus_*
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Posted 22 November 2009 - 11:53 PM
Drop the seine in and quickly push it ahead of you downstream 5 to 10 ft into the pool. Lift quickly while still moving downstream; dont stop moving forward. Good method for mid-water darters, shiners, dace, chubs, others that feed at the riffle/pool transition zone.
Oh yes...I often forget how effective the downstream seine hauls are. I can see that being pretty productive, even solo. Good tip!
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