TN00317 DUSKY DARTER PERCINA SCIERA
Physical description: This is a blotched or wholly dark darter of fairly large size, adults usually 50-100 mm SL. Form of body and snout moderate, frenum well developed; branchiostegal membranes moderately conjoined; caudal fin emarginate. Nuptial male with slight development of keratinized ridge along anal rays. Female genital papilla short, ridged, tip fimbriate. Lateral line complete, scales (56)59-68(71); scales above lateral line 7-10; scales below lateral line 12-16; circumpeduncle scales 21-28. Dorsal spines (10)11-13(14); dorsal rays 11-12(13); anal spines 2; anal rays (7)8-9(10); pectoral rays (12)13-15. Nape, cheek, opercle, belly prepectoral and most of breast scaled. Modified midventral scales in male, 0(2) on midbreast, 2-3 interpelvic, belly with nearly complete row, spines little- or unelevated when breeding; female with 2-3 slightly modified interpelvic scales. Adult ground color olive dorsally yellow to yellow-brown laterally; venter yellow to white; markings dark brown to black. Large breeding male dark brown-black; black vertical bars extending dorsally over back; upper body with blue-green iridescence. First dorsal dusky olive-brown, sometimes with a flint yellow-orange band distally *4205*. Reproduction: In Illinois spawning occurs between May and early July in gravel riffles. The males are territorial. It is likely that this species scatters it's eggs *4205*. Behavior: This species consumes midge and blackfly larvae supplemented by caddisfly and mayfly larvae *4205*. Population Parameters: Most individuals mature by age 1. The average life- span is 4-5 years. Fecundity is from 80-196 mature eggs *4205*.
| Life History |
References for Life History Codes
4205
Comments on Life History Codes