Christmas darter

Last updated

Christmas darter
Etheostoma hopkinsi FWS 20935.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Genus: Etheostoma
Species:
E. hopkinsi
Binomial name
Etheostoma hopkinsi
(Fowler, 1945)
Etheostoma hopkinsi range.png
Synonyms [2]

Poecilichthys hopkinsiFowler, 1945

The Christmas darter (Etheostoma hopkinsi) is a species of ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae which includes the perches, ruffes and pike-perches. It is found in the Savannah, Ogeechee and Altamaha catchment areas in South Carolina and Georgia. It is a small but colorful fish, typically less than 5 cm (2 in) in total length, with blackish, red and green streaks on its flanks. Green and red are associated with Christmas, hence the common name Christmas darter. Like other darters, it lives on or close to the stream-bed, in riffles and vegetation-laden stretches of small rivers, creeks and spring-fed streams. It feeds on aquatic insects and probably breeds in the spring, but its biology and behavior are poorly known.

Contents

The Christmas darter is closely related to the Savannah darter and the Christmas Eve or Hannukah darter, the latter of which is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Christmas darter rather than a species in its own right. The Christmas darter may hybridize with other darter species, though hybridization is hampered by behavioral and biological barriers. The Christmas darter is a common species in suitable habitat and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as being of least concern for conservation purposes. In South Carolina, it is considered a conservation priority species, as it may be threatened in future by impoundment of rivers, siltation and deforestation.

Taxonomy

other Etheostoma spp.

E. binotatum

E. hopkinsi

E. fricksium

Relationship of the Christmas darter with other members of its genus, based on a 2011 study [3]

The Christmas darter was described as a new species in 1945 by Henry Weed Fowler, who gave it the scientific name Poecilichthys hopkinsi. He suggested the common name of "Hopkin's darter". The holotype was collected by Milton Hopkins, after whom the species was named. It was collected in Oswitchee Springs in Wilcox County, Georgia in 1942. [4] Poecilichthys has since been recognized as a junior synonym of Etheostoma, [5] and the species was reclassified as E. hopkinsi. [1] Its common name of "Christmas darter" is due to the red and green stripes on its body. [6] Some authors have considered the Christmas darter to consist of two subspecies: E. h. hopkinsi (the Christmas darter) and E. h. binotatum (the Christmas Eve or Hannukah darter). [7] However, the Christmas Eve darter, as E. binotatum, is sometimes identified as a full species rather than a subspecies, [3] such as by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. [8] Conversely, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System does not recognize the Christmas Eve darter as either a full species or a subspecies (the Christmas darter is considered monotypic). [9]

The Christmas darter was traditionally considered part of the Oligocephalus subgenus, though a 2011 study found that the subgenus as defined was paraphyletic (did not contain all descendants of a common ancestor). In a phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, the Christmas darter formed a clade with the Christmas Eve darter (E. h. binotatum or E. binotatum) and the Savannah darter (E. fricksium), the latter of which was its sister taxon. [3]

Description

Darters have cylindrical bodies, large paired fins and poorly developed swim bladders; they rest on the substrate and use their pectoral fins for lift when swimming. [10] The Christmas darter has a maximum total length of 6.6 cm (2.6 in) but a more typical length is 4.5 cm (1.8 in). [2] The dorsal fin (back fin) has 10 or 11 spines and 11 to 13 soft rays, the pectoral fin has 12 to 13 rays and the anal fin has 2 spines and 7 to 9 rays. The general color is some shade of yellowish-green, with eight dark dorsal saddles. The flanks have ten to twelve dark bars that turn green or blueish-green in breeding males. These are separated by reddish streaks in mature males and by yellow or orangish streaks in females. The front dorsal fin is a dusky green color, apart from the central portion, which has a broad red stripe in males and a narrow red line in females. The caudal peduncle (end of fish's body where tail fin attaches) has a row of four, somewhat irregular, dark spots. [11] During the breeding season, adult males change color. The breeding male's dorsal fin has a band each of red and blue along the edge. The breeding males are overall more colorful. [12]

The Christmas Eve darter is distinguishable from the Christmas darter by the presence of two dark, rectangular blotches near the top of its head. These blotches are either absent or faint in the Christmas darter. Additionally, the Christmas Eve darter and the Christmas darter differ in their number of lateral scales. [11] The Christmas Eve darter has 41–49 scales, the last 8–13 of which lack pores, while the Christmas darter has 40–47 scales, the last 2–11 of which lack pores. [12]

The Christmas darter can be separated from other members of its genus by a combination of the following traits; the lateral line (sensory organ along each side of the body) is straight; the branchiostegal membranes (structural membranes of the gill) on the gills are moderately connected; a frenum (membrane that attaches the upper lip to the snout) is attached to the upper lip; there are two spines on the anal fin. [11] The Christmas darter is most frequently confused with the Savannah darter, based on the similarities in their appearance and the overlap in their ranges. [7] The Savannah darter differs in having a pale stripe running along the spine and in having dorso-lateral dark streaks rather than dark dorsal saddles. The red stripes on the spinous dorsal fin is at the margin of the fin in the Savannah darter but in the middle in the Christmas darter. [13]

Distribution and habitat

The Altamaha River in Georgia Altamaha and Rayonier.jpg
The Altamaha River in Georgia

The Christmas darter is endemic to the states of Georgia and South Carolina in the southeastern United States. The nominate population is restricted to the Altamaha and Ogeechee River drainage basins in Georgia, both above and below the fall line, while the Christmas Eve darter occurs in the Savannah River catchment area, on the border between Georgia and South Carolina. Typical habitats include medium-sized and small rivers and creeks, riffles with rubble and coarse substrates, headwater creeks, and spring-fed streams with plentiful vegetation and sandy bottoms. [1]

Biology and ecology

The Christmas darter's biology is largely unknown. [11] It likely reproduces in March and April. Individuals become sexually mature by the end of their first year of life and have a maximum lifespan of two years. Its diet consists primarily of aquatic insects, though also includes other aquatic invertebrates. [7] It can hybridize with other darter species, though a hybridization study with it and the redband darter (E. luteovinctum) showed variation in hybrid inviability. Hybrid offspring from a Christmas darter female were often severely deformed, dying before hatching. The hybrid offspring of redband darter females had much higher likelihoods of successfully hatching. The major barrier to hybridization, however, is behavioral isolation, meaning that the Christmas darter has a strong preference for mating with members of its own species rather than hybridizing. [14]

Status

The Christmas darter is a common species and does not seem to be facing any particular threats. It occurs in numerous locations in the watersheds it occupies, and there is no reason to suspect that the overall population is decreasing. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "least concern". [1] As of 2015, it is considered a priority species in the state of South Carolina, along with 56 other freshwater fish. [15] Priority species were species that were not benefitting from federal conservation funding already, those rare or at-risk, those little known to science, or those that could be used as bioindicators. [16] Though many of the listed species of freshwater fish were noted to not be in danger of extinction, their inclusion was justified "if the goal is to maintain South Carolina's rich and diverse fish fauna". [15] Though not presently threatened with extinction, alteration of the watersheds it lives in could seriously reduce its range in the future. [12] Threats to the species could include deforestation, siltation and dams. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

The coldwater darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the United States, where it occurs in the Coosa River system of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niangua darter</span> Species of fish

The Niangua darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to Missouri, United States. It is found only in the Osage River Basin of central Missouri where its range historically included the Sac River, Pomme de Terre River, Niangua River, Big Tavern Creek, and Maries River. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.

<i>Percina burtoni</i> Species of fish

Percina burtoni, the blotchside logperch or blotchside darter, is a small, endangered species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the United States and classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blenny darter</span> Species of fish

The blenny darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is a poorly known species which occurs in Alabama and Tennessee where it inhabits swift riffles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenside darter</span> Species of fish

The greenside darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It inhabits swift riffles in the eastern United States and southern Ontario.

<i>Etheostoma exile</i> Species of fish

Etheostoma exile, the Iowa darter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to the lakes and streams of Iowa, along with about 17 other species of darters.

The Cumberland snubnose darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. This species is found in the middle Cumberland River drainage in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. It is absent in reaches above the Big South Fork, rare in North Carolina, and absent in western tributaries of the Tennessee River. While research on the ecology of E. atripinne is not extensive, what is known is they are usually found in small to medium freshwater streams in gravel riffle areas where their eggs can attach to the substrate and be left unguarded. E. atripinne can be found within a wide range of depths in its environment, leading its being classified as benthopelagic. While its global status is secure, the American Fisheries Society labels it with a status of “Special Concern”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenfin darter</span> Species of fish

The greenfin darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluntnose darter</span> Species of fish

The bluntnose darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in eastern North America where it is found in slower moving and still waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coosa darter</span> Species of fish

The Coosa darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swamp darter</span> Species of fish

The swamp darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the Eastern United States.

The stripetail darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States. It is found in small rivers and streams in the states of Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Males are a golden-orange color with black barring on the fins, and grow to a length of about 2.8 in (7 cm). This fish feeds on midge larvae and other small invertebrates. It breeds in the spring; eggs are attached to the substrate, often under slab rocks, where they are guarded by the male. The population trend of this fish seems to be stable and it is a common species with numerous sub-populations over a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

The goldstripe darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the southeastern United States where it is found in Gulf Slope streams from the Colorado River drainage in Texas to the Flint River in Georgia, the Atlantic Slope in Ocmulgee River system, Georgia, and the Mississippi embayment north as far as southeastern Missouri and western Kentucky. It is typically found in small springs, streams, and creeks with aquatic and marginal vegetation and detritus. The female spawns on multiple occasions between about mid-March and June, sticking the adhesive eggs to plants, gravel and the sides of rocks. The goldstripe darter is a common species with a wide range and numerous sub-populations, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snubnose darter</span> Species of fish

The snubnose darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speckled darter</span> Species of fish

The speckled darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the central and southeastern United States. It occurs in the Mississippi River basin and through the Gulf Coast drainages. It is also found in the Clinch River and the Powell River. This species inhabits rocky or sandy pools in flowing waters up to the size of medium rivers with fast currents. It can reach a length of 6.1 centimetres (2.4 in) TL though most only reach about 4 centimetres (1.6 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherokee darter</span> Species of fish

The Cherokee darter is a rare species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to Georgia in the United States, where it is limited to the Etowah River system. It inhabits creeks with rocky bottoms and little silt, typically occurring just above and below riffles. It is a whitish or yellowish fish with green and black spots on the flanks and eight dark saddle-like bars dorsally. It has a small range and its habitat is being degraded and fragmented, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being endangered.

<i>Etheostoma variatum</i> Species of fish

Etheostoma variatum, the variegate darter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to the eastern United States where it occurs primarily in the Ohio River basin; it is present in the states of Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky with a small population in Virginia. It is a large darter, growing to 10 cm (4 in) long, orange-red with black vertical barring on its body, and horizontal barring on its front dorsal fin. Its typical habitat is swift-flowing riffles with rubble, boulder and gravel. No major threats have been identified for this fish and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

The turquoise darter is a species of ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae which includes the perches, ruffes and pike-perches. It is found in the Edisto, Savannah and Altamaha River drainages of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia in the United States. It inhabits rocky riffles of creeks and small to medium rivers. This species can reach a length of 8.0 cm (3.1 in), though most only reach about 6.0 cm (2.4 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savannah darter</span> Species of fish

The Savannah darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States, where it occurs in the Edisto, Combahee, Broad and Savannah River drainages in South Carolina and Georgia. It inhabits gravel riffles, gravel and sand runs of creeks and small rivers. This species can reach a length of 7.4 cm (2.9 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Etheostomatinae</span> Subfamily of fishes

Etheostomatinae 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 is endemic to North America. It consists of three to five different genera and well over 200 species. A common name for these fish in southern Indiana is pollywog.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 NatureServe (2013). "Etheostoma hopkinsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T202490A2745282. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202490A2745282.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Etheostoma hopkinsi" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 3 Near, Thomas J.; Bossu, Christen M.; Bradburd, Gideon S.; Carlson, Rose L.; Harrington, Richard C.; Hollingsworth, Phillip R.; Keck, Benjamin P.; Etnier, David A. (2011). "Phylogeny and temporal diversification of darters (Percidae: Etheostomatinae)". Systematic Biology. 60 (5): 565–595. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syr052. PMID   21775340. Lock-green.svg
  4. ↑ Fowler, Henry (1945). Study of the Fishes of the Southern Piedmont and Coastal Plain. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. pp. 249–251. ISBN   9781422317914.
  5. ↑ Mayasich, Joseph M.; Grandmaison, David (2004). Spotted Darter Status Assessment (PDF) (Report). US Fish & Wildlife Service. p. 1. NRRI/TR-2004-02.
  6. ↑ Bailey, R. M.; Richards, W. J. (1963). "Status of Poecilichthys hopkinsi Fowler and Etheostoma trisella, new species, percid fishes from Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina" (PDF). Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology (630): 4.
  7. 1 2 3 Arndt, Rudolf G.; Foltz, Jeffrey W. (2009). Freshwater Fishes of South Carolina. University of South Carolina Press. pp. 359–360. ISBN   9781570036804.
  8. ↑ "Etheostoma binotatum". NCBI. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "Etheostoma hopkinsi (Fowler, 1945)". ITIS. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  10. ↑ Marcy, Barton C. (2005). Fishes of the Middle Savannah River Basin: With Emphasis on the Savannah River Site. University of Georgia Press. p. 369. ISBN   978-0-8203-2535-4.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Marcy, Barton C. (2005). Fishes of the Middle Savannah River Basin: With Emphasis on the Savannah River Site. University of Georgia Press. pp. 379–381. ISBN   978-0-8203-2535-4.
  12. 1 2 3 Kuehne, Robert A.; Barbour, Roger W. (2015). The American Darters. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 136–137. ISBN   9780813165257.
  13. ↑ Marcy, Barton C. (2005). Fishes of the Middle Savannah River Basin: With Emphasis on the Savannah River Site. University of Georgia Press. p. 375. ISBN   978-0-8203-2535-4.
  14. ↑ Mendelson, Tamra C.; Imhoff, Vance E.; Venditti, Jennifer J. (2007). "The Accumulation of reproductive barriers during speciation: postmating barriers in two behaviorally isolated species of darters (Percidae: Etheostoma)". Evolution. 61 (11): 2596–2606. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00220.x. PMID   17894811. S2CID   24837252. Lock-green.svg
  15. 1 2 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. "Chapter 3: Taxonomic Groups" (PDF). SC SWAP 2015. p. 3-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  16. ↑ South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (2005). "Chapter 2: South Carolina Priority Species". Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (PDF) (Report). p. 2-1.
  17. ↑ SCDNR Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (2006). Species Account for Christmas Darter (PDF) (Report). p. 8 of 13. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.