I wanted to update the Saluda darter find from a few weeks ago. Apparently, the one Saluda darter I found was in fact a Saluda. We went back to the same spot a few weeks later and turned up 6 of them. This is a very rare fish and to get 6 in a site is considered abundant.
This find is significant because this darter has not been taken from this particular drainage before. It may also disrupt some papers that are in review fully describing the ranges of both Etheostoma collis and saludae, since this fish aligns with saludae, where others in the general vicinity align with collis. I will keep you all updated.
Saluda darter update
Started by
Guest_dsmith73_*
, Aug 19 2006 08:54 PM
6 replies to this topic
#1 Guest_dsmith73_*
Posted 19 August 2006 - 08:54 PM
#2 Guest_Skipjack_*
Posted 19 August 2006 - 09:19 PM
Nice Mr. Smith, Please do keep us informed.
#3 Guest_drewish_*
Posted 19 August 2006 - 09:58 PM
Are there efforts to breed these or are these kept for scientific studies?
#4 Guest_dsmith73_*
Posted 20 August 2006 - 10:23 PM
These were quickly sacrificed in EtOH for genetic work. We want to see if these lean more towards collis or saludae. Morphimetrically they are more like saludae, but geographically they should be collis. Therein lies the rub.
#5 Guest_tricolor_*
Posted 21 August 2006 - 02:06 PM
So what does this Saluda darter look similar to?
#6 Guest_dsmith73_*
Posted 21 August 2006 - 02:07 PM
If you can picture this, it looks like a stouter, less colorful swamp darter. This is not the most colorful of species by any means. Actually, none come to mind that are less colorful.
It's an interesting fish regardless.
It's an interesting fish regardless.
#7 Guest_tricolor_*
Posted 21 August 2006 - 02:11 PM
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