ABSTRACT:
A new species of darter of subgenus Oligocephalus, genus Etheostoma, is herein described
relative to three similar and geographically proximal Oligocephalus – E. asprigene
(Forbes), E. collettei Birdsong & Knapp, and E. swaini (Jordan) – largely confined
to the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Central Lowlands of the eastern United States.
The new species occurs in the Neches, Sabine and Calcasieu river systems of east Texas
and western Louisiana. It is most closely related to E. asprigene. It differs from all
of the above species primarily in having a longer spinous dorsal fin base and a narrower
transpelvic width. Nuptial males of the new species differ in breeding coloration
and have significantly shorter snouts and caudal peduncles, and narrower bodies than
nuptial males of E. asprigene and other Oligocephalus compared. The new species is
most similar to E. aprigene in physiognomy and body pigmentation.
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