The bluntnose darter (''Etheostoma chlorosomum'') is a species of freshwater
ray-finned fish
Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species.
The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or hor ...
, a darter from the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Etheostomatinae
Etheosomatidae is a species rich subfamily of freshwater ray-finned fish, the members of which are commonly known as the darters. The subfamily is part of the family Percidae which also includes the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. The family i ...
, part of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Percidae
The Percidae are a family of ray-finned fish, part of the order Perciformes, which are found in fresh and brackish waters of the Northern Hemisphere. The majority are Nearctic, but there are also Palearctic species. The family contains more than ...
, which also contains the
perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus ''Perca'', freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which three species occur in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Percif ...
es, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in eastern North America where it is found in slower moving and still waters.
Taxonomy and etymology
The bluntnose darter was first formally described by the
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
Oliver Perry Hay (1846-1930) with the type locality given as the
Cullasaja River
The Cullasaja River () , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
Macon County, North Carolina
Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,014. Its county seat is Franklin.
The Nantahala River runs through Macon County, flowing into the Little Tennessee River in Sw ...
. The generic name ''Etheostoma'' derives from Greek , "to strain", and stoma, "mouth". The specific name ''chlorosomum'' is Greek for "greenish-yellow".
Description
Bluntnose darters attain a size of up to . the species has a diagnostic very round, blunt snout. Its color is light yellow or olive dorsally with either dark brown or black spots or uneven dense lines. The belly is white. The flanks bear W-shaped marks . The area in front of the eyes consists of continuous black bars around the snout. This barring also slightly extends onto the upper lip. The dorsal and caudal fins have some pigment in light brown bands, while the other fins are clear. There is a single anal spine. The opercle, cheek, and prepectoral area are scaled, while the breast may be fully or partially scaled. Scales may be embedded. The belly is either fully scaled or scaled posteriorly and unscaled anteriorly. Bluntnose darters have an incomplete lateral line.
During breeding, males take on a darker or dusky breeding coloration, induced by
melanophore
Chromatophores are cells that produce color, of which many types are pigment-containing cells, or groups of cells, found in a wide range of animals including amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans and cephalopods. Mammals and birds, in contrast, ...
s unevenly distributed throughout the fins, and on the underside of the body.Breeding tubercles develop on the pelvic and anal fins. Females develop a large, spatulate
genital papilla The genital papilla is an anatomical feature of the external genitalia of some animals. In mammals
In mammals, the genital papilla is a part of female external genitalia not present in humans, which appears as a small, fleshy flab of tissue. The pa ...
e.
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in North America from the San Antonio Bay drainage in Texas east to Mississippi, Alabama and Indiana, and north to Minnesota. It was formerly present in the Lake Michigan drainage area. In Louisiana, the bluntnose darter is one of the most widely distributed darters and is found in all river drainages, but it is absent in the southernmost estuarine environments. The species is found in swamps, floodplain lakes, sloughs, and low-gradient creeks, often over substrates of mud, clay or detritus. It can be found in large rivers, where it most often occupies backwaters.
Diet
In specimens found in Tennessee, the bluntnose darter's diet was made up of aquatic insects such as caddisfly larvae, dytiscid beetles, and midge larvae.
Reproduction and life cycle
The lifespan of the bluntnose darter is likely about three years. Spawning occurs at different times of year throughout the range; in Texas, a spawning period from early January to late March has been observed, April in Kansas, and March and April in Louisiana. Males court females in displays that include of posing while quivering with upright fins. The spawning site is chosen by the female. She usually selects algae, dead leaves, or a small twig. Males mount the females for fertilization, only fertilizing 1-3 eggs per attempt. Larval development of the bluntnose darter has not yet been described.