| Blenny darter | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percidae |
| Genus: | Etheostoma |
| Subgenus: | Etheostoma |
| Species: | E. blennius |
| Binomial name | |
| Etheostoma blennius Gilbert & Swain, 1887 |
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The Blenny darter (Etheostoma blennius) is a species of fish in the family Percidae. Etheostoma blennius are a poorly known percid from Alabama and Tennessee that inhabit swift riffles.
Contents |
Etheostoma blennius live a maximum of two to three years, grow to a maximum of 69 mm SL (standard length) and are sexually mature at one year.[1] Etheostoma blennius are reproductively active throughout March and April. Spawning occurs over gravel riffles with swift current. Mature eggs are orange and translucent. Etheostoma blennius are insectivorous, with analyzed gut contents containing Nematocera larvae, more specifically black fly (Simuliidae) and midge (Chironomidae) larvae. Furthermore, significant numbers of mayfly (Ephemeroptera) and caddisfly (Trichoptera) nymphs were also found in gut.
Etheostoma blennius have a deep and robust anterior body that tapers to a narrow caudal peduncle. Dorsum olive-brown or tan with 4 bold dark brown to bluish-black saddles. Nape and belly fully scaled with breast and cheek naked. Teardrop typically present.[2] Breeding males show an overall orangish hue, with dull red spots in the center of each upper body scale; anal fin has 8 rays and are bluish-black; caudal and pectoral fins green with 16 rays; dorsal fins reddish-purple with 11-12 rays; oral and nasal areas blue with rest of head green.[3] Two subspecies are know, Etheostoma blennius blennius and Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense and can be differentiated by scalation of opercle and lateral scale counts.
Herbert T. Boschung and Richard L. Mayden (2004) recommend Etheostoma blennius for Special Concern status in Alabama due to its limited distribution. Furthermore, much of the area in Alabama where Etheostoma blennius occurs is proposed for a number of floodwater-retarding dams and such structures would greatly degrade the remaining habitat.
Etheostoma blennius are a native southeastern darter found in Alabama and Tennessee. They are found in small to large tributaries of the Tennessee River drainage, more specifically the Buffalo River, Duck River, Sequatchie River, and White Oak Creek, Tennessee. Etheostoma blennius have a more limited distribution in Alabama and are restricted to Tennessee River tributaries within the Tennessee Valley of the Highland Rim.
Etheostoma blennius typical habitat is deep, fast, clear-water riffles with non-compacted gravel substrates containing minimal or no aquatic vegetation.
Brooks M. Burr (1979) used 51 morphological characteristics, which indicated that the nearest relative of Etheostoma blennius is Etheostoma swannanoa (Swannanoa darter) of the Etheostoma thalassinum (Seagreen darter) group.[6]
Etheostoma blennius belongs to the subgenus Etheostoma that contains the following species:
Etheostoma blennius is further nested within the greenside darter group that contains the following species: