TN00079 GREENSIDE DARTER ETHEOSTOMA BLENNIOIDES
Physical description: This species is laterally inscribed with a series of U- or V-shaped markings. This is the largest species of the genus Etheostoma with the adults usually from 60-90 mm SL. The body is elongate and slightly compressed. The snout is somewhat short, moderate to blunt, often bulbous, and may overhang the tip of the upper lip slightly. The maxilla is uniquely bound by skin to the side of the snout. The frenum is present, sometimes concealed by a small knob at the tip of the upper lip, and sometimes creased. The branchiostegal membranes are broadly conjoined and the caudal fin is emarginate. The breeding males have tubercles. The female genital papillia becomes long and tubular during the winter and shrinks soon after spawning. The lateral line is complete with (59)66- 80(86) scales. There are (21)24-31(32) circumpeduncle scales (11)13-14(16) dorsal spines and (11)12-14(16) dorsal rays. There are 2 anal spines, (6)7-9(10) anal rays and (13)14-15(16) pectoral rays. The cheek, opercle, nape and belly are scaled and the breast is naked or partly scaled. The small breeding male of E. b. newmanii is mostly pale olive to medium olive on the head and body with dark green lateral bars. In the large male the head and body intensify in darkness and the green bars are almost totally obscured. In E. b. blennoides, the lateral bars are bright green, and quite distinct from the general duskiness. In both, the first dorsal edge is white with the subdistal and submarginal bluish green. The medial is black and the epibasal is pale or orange with the basal black. The second dorsal has black-streaked membranes, and posteriorly, the basal half has a smattering of bluish green. The caudal is straw-olive distally and bluish-green else- where including brighter dorsal and ventral areas which extend onto the caudal peduncle. The anal and pelvic are mostly bluish-green, with white on the distal edge, most prominent on the knobs of the leading spine or rays. The pectoral is dark olive. The females are paler overall, yellowish green *4205*. Reproduction: This species will spawn from February to late March in Arkansas extending to mid-June in New York. They spawn in water that is from 11-23 degrees C. In Virginia, they probably spawn from late March to early May. They have several spawnings of 4-7 eggs *2284*, with an average total of 784 eggs *2284,4205*. The mean diameter of the eggs is 1.85 mm *2138*. Incubation takes from 18-20 days at 13-15 degrees C *2138*. They reproduce at 2 years of age, sometimes at age 1 *2134,4205*. his is an egg attacher, but in Virginia it is often not associated with plants and may spawn over sand in the lee of boulders *4205*. Behavior: There is an upstream migration of mature fish to spawn in selected areas. There is no nest building or territoriality on the spawning grounds and it is presumed that females stay below the riffles in pool like areas until ready to spawn. The adhesive eggs are deposited in beds of filamentous algae, moss or on sand *2921,2138,4205*. There is no direct parental care *2284*. Territoriality is strongly intraspecific, with an interspecific tendency *2284*. This species avoids the area just above the crest of riffles and also eeper water at the base of riffles *2134*. Origin: This species is native in the New and Big Sandy *4205*. Population parameters: Longevity is typically 4 years. They reproduce at 2 ` Population parameters: This species live to be age 5 and reproduces at 2 years of age, sometimes at age 1 *4205*. The sex ratio of male to females is 1.8:1 with an increase in the number of males with age *2134*. The mean number of eggs per female annually is 784 *2284,4205*. Aquatic/terrestrial associations: This species is associated with Etheostoma flabellare, E. camurum, E. zonale, E. tippecanoe, Percina copelandi, P. evides, Micropterus dolomieu, and Ambloplites rupestris. Some plants include Cladophora glomerata and Fontinalis spp *789,2138*. They are probably an important forage for smallmouth and rock basses *1579*.
| Life History |
References for Life History Codes
2134, 2284, 2921, 816, 2918, 789, 2138, 4205
Comments on Life History Codes