TN00093 SWAMP DARTER ETHEOSTOMA FUSIFORME FUSIFORME
Physical description: This is a laterally blotched and/or flecked darter, with a short pale lateral line high on the body. The adults are usually from 25-40 mm SL. The body is elongate and moderately compressed. The snout is short and round and the frenum is present. The branchiostegal membranes are narrowly conjoined, and the pre- opercle is usually entire, occasionally partly serrate. The caudal fin is subtruncate or round. There are breeding tubercles on the anal rays and undersides of the pelvic rays in the male. The female genital papilla is a moderately elongate tapering tube with an un- notched tip, that is pointed or broadly rounded, with a long slit-like opening. The lateral line is incomplete with (40)46-50(62) total scales and (0)6-20(26) pored scales. There are 2-3(5) scales above the lateral line and (6)7-9(12) scales below the lateral line. There are 18-22 circumpeduncle scales, (8)9-11(13) dorsal spines and (8)9- 10(11) dorsal rays. There are 2 anal spines (5)6-8(9) anal rays and (12)13(15) pectoral rays. The nape, cheek, opercle, breast and belly are fully scaled and the posterior head dorsum is variably scaled. The infraorbital canal is interrupted, almost always with 3 anterior and 2 posterior pores. The lateral blotches are dark brown and the anterior half of the body has a slight greenish iridescence. The dorsum is olive-brown and the abdomen is pale tan-olive. The dorsal and caudal fin rays sometimes have a slight brick red cast *4205*. Reproduction: This species spawns from March through September through- out it's range. They are egg attachers and the reproductive behavior is generally similar to E. collis. When breeding, the male will mount the female and beat her with his pelvic fins *4205*. Behavior: This species consumes mostly microcrustaceans and aquatic insect larvae, particularly midges *4205*. Origin: This species is native in Virginia *4205*. Population parameters: This is an annual species and rarely survive a second fall *4205*. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: CHEEK AND OPERCLE SCALED, NAPE PARTLY TO FULLY SCALED, BREAST AND PREPECTORAL AREA SCALED BUT SCALES MAY BE PARTLY IMBEDDED LATERAL LINE HAS 40-63 SCALES, 0-37 PORED *TN5018* DORSAL SPINES = 8-13 (9-11), DORSAL RAYS = 8-12 (10-11), PECTORAL RAYS = 12- 15 (13), ANAL SPINES = 2, ANAL RAYS = 5-10 (7-8), VERTEBRAE = 37-40 (38-39) *TN5017*
| Life History |
References for Life History Codes
4205, 816, 2242, 2243, 2232, 1230
Comments on Life History Codes