The Blenny darter is a species of fish in the family Percidae

Percidae

The Percidae are a family of perciform fish found in fresh and brackish waters of the Northern Hemisphere. The family contains about 200 species in ten genera...

. Etheostoma blennius are a poorly known percid from Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...

 and Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...

 that inhabit swift riffles.

Biology

Etheostoma blennius live a maximum of two to three years, grow to a maximum of 69 mm SL (standard length) and are sexually mature at one year. Etheostoma blennius are reproductively active throughout March and April. Spawning

Spawn (biology)

Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...

 occurs over gravel riffles with swift current. Mature eggs are orange and translucent. Etheostoma blennius are insectivorous

Insectivore

An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....

, with analyzed gut contents containing Nematocera

Nematocera

Nematocera , is a suborder of elongated flies with thin, segmented antennae and mostly aquatic larvae, consisting of the mosquitoes, crane flies, gnats, and midges....

 larvae

Larvae

In Roman mythology, lemures were shades or spirits of the restless or malignant dead, and are probably cognate with an extended sense of larvae as disturbing or frightening...

, more specifically black fly (Simuliidae) and midge (Chironomidae)

Chironomidae

Chironomidae are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae...

 larvae

Larvae

In Roman mythology, lemures were shades or spirits of the restless or malignant dead, and are probably cognate with an extended sense of larvae as disturbing or frightening...

. Furthermore, significant numbers of mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

Mayfly

Mayflies are insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera . They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies...

 and caddisfly (Trichoptera) nymphs

Nymph (biology)

In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...

 were also found in gut.

Characteristics

Etheostoma blennius have a deep and robust anterior body that tapers to a narrow caudal peduncle. Dorsum olive-brown or tan with 4 bold dark brown to bluish-black saddles. Nape and belly fully scaled with breast and cheek naked. Teardrop typically present. Breeding males show an overall orangish hue, with dull red spots in the center of each upper body scale; anal

Fish anatomy

Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...

 fin has 8 rays and are bluish-black; caudal

Fish anatomy

Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...

 and pectoral

Fish anatomy

Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...

 fins green with 16 rays; dorsal

Fish anatomy

Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...

 fins reddish-purple with 11-12 rays; oral and nasal areas blue with rest of head green. Two subspecies

Subspecies

Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

 are know, Etheostoma blennius blennius and Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense and can be differentiated by scalation of opercle

Fish anatomy

Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...

 and lateral scale

Fish anatomy

Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...

 counts.

• Etheostoma blennius blennius: possess unscaled opercle
  Fish anatomy
  Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...
  
   and 42-51 lateral scales
  Fish anatomy
  Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...
  
  
• Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense: possess a scaled opercle
  Fish anatomy
  Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...
  
   and 40-44 lateral scales
  Fish anatomy
  Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...
  
  ; integrades
  Intergradation
  In zoology, intergradation is the way in which two distinct subspecies are connected via areas where populations are found that have the characteristics of both...
  
   between Etheostoma blennius blennius and Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense do occur

Conservation

Herbert T. Boschung and Richard L. Mayden (2004) recommend Etheostoma blennius for Special Concern status in Alabama due to its limited distribution. Furthermore, much of the area in Alabama where Etheostoma blennius occurs is proposed for a number of floodwater-retarding dams and such structures would greatly degrade the remaining habitat.

Distribution

Etheostoma blennius are a native southeastern darter found in Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...

 and Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...

. They are found in small to large tributaries of the Tennessee River

Tennessee River

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...

 drainage, more specifically the Buffalo River

Buffalo River (Tennessee)

The Buffalo River is the longest unimpounded river in Middle Tennessee in the United States, flowing through the southern and western portions of that region. It is the largest tributary of the Duck River and is used for canoeing, especially in its middle section...

, Duck River

Duck River (Tennessee)

The Duck River, long, is the longest river located entirely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. Free flowing for most of its length, the Duck River is home to over 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, making it one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America.The...

, Sequatchie River

Sequatchie River

The Sequatchie River is a waterway that drains the Sequatchie Valley, a large valley in the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee.-Hydrography:The Sequatchie River's source is a massive spring which flows out of Head of Sequatchie Spring...

, and White Oak Creek, Tennessee. Etheostoma blennius have a more limited distribution in Alabama and are restricted to Tennessee River

Tennessee River

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...

 tributaries within the Tennessee Valley

Tennessee Valley

The Tennessee Valley is the drainage basin of the Tennessee River and is largely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. It stretches from southwest Kentucky to northwest Georgia and from northeast Mississippi to the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina...

 of the Highland Rim

Highland Rim

The Highland Rim is a geographic term for the area in Tennessee surrounding the Central Basin. Nashville is largely surrounded by higher terrain in all directions....

.

• Etheostoma blennius blennius: occurs in Buffalo River
  Buffalo River (Tennessee)
  The Buffalo River is the longest unimpounded river in Middle Tennessee in the United States, flowing through the southern and western portions of that region. It is the largest tributary of the Duck River and is used for canoeing, especially in its middle section...
  
  , Duck River
  Duck River (Tennessee)
  The Duck River, long, is the longest river located entirely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. Free flowing for most of its length, the Duck River is home to over 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, making it one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America.The...
  
  , and White Oak Creek, Tennessee
• Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense: limited to Sequatchie River
  Sequatchie River
  The Sequatchie River is a waterway that drains the Sequatchie Valley, a large valley in the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee.-Hydrography:The Sequatchie River's source is a massive spring which flows out of Head of Sequatchie Spring...
  
   in Tennessee; integrades between Etheostoma blennius blennius and Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense occur throughout their distribution in Alabama
  Alabama
  Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
  
   and in the Elk River of Tennessee
  Tennessee
  Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
  
  

Etymology

• Etheostoma: etheo meaning filter or strain, and stoma meaning mouth
• Etheostoma blennius blennius: resembling a marine blenny
• Etheostoma blennius sequatchiense: of the Sequatchie River

Habitat

Etheostoma blennius typical habitat is deep, fast, clear-water riffles with non-compacted

Compaction (geology)

Compaction refers to the process by which a sediment progressively loses its porosity due to the effects of loading. This forms part of the process of lithification. When a layer of sediment is originally deposited, it contains an open framework of particles with the pore space being usually...

 gravel substrates containing minimal or no aquatic vegetation.

Systematics

Brooks M. Burr (1979) used 51 morphological characteristics, which indicated that the nearest relative of Etheostoma blennius is Etheostoma swannanoa (Swannanoa darter) of the Etheostoma thalassinum (Seagreen darter) group.

Etheostoma blennius belongs to the subgenus Etheostoma that contains the following species:

• Etheostoma blennioides (Greenside darter)
  Greenside darter
  The Greenside darter is a species of fish in the family Percidae. Etheostoma blennioides is a large percid than inhabits swift riffles...
  
  
• Etheostoma gutselli (Tuckasegee darter)
• Etheostoma histrio (Harlequin darter)
• Etheostoma inscriptum (Turquoise darter)
• Etheostoma lynceum (Brighteye darter)
• Etheostoma rupestre (Rock darter)
• Etheostoma sellare (Maryland darter)
• Etheostoma swannanoa (Swannanoa darter)
• Etheostoma thalassinum (Seagreen darter)
• Etheostoma zonale (Banded darter)

Etheostoma blennius is further nested within the greenside darter group that contains the following species:

• Etheostoma blennioides (Greenside darter)
  Greenside darter
  The Greenside darter is a species of fish in the family Percidae. Etheostoma blennioides is a large percid than inhabits swift riffles...
  
  
• Etheostoma gutselli (Tuckasegee darter)
• Etheostoma inscriptum (Turquoise darter)
• Etheostoma swannanoa (Swannanoa darter)
• Etheostoma thalassinum (Seagreen darter)

External links

1. Natureserve -- Etheostoma blennius