Redlips Darter

📖 Overview

Redlips Darter (Etheostoma maydeni), first described by Powers & Kuhajda, 2012 is a small fish in the family Percidae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 8.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Subtropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

The Etheostoma cinereum complex is diagnosed from all other darters by having the combination of an elongated, pointy snout, rust to faint red spots in 4 horizontal rows dorsolaterally on the side of the body, dark brown to black oval to rectangular lateral blotches expanding to faint diagonal bands on the side of the body, red pigment on interradial membranes of the soft dorsal fin, and a distal red band of pigment in the spinous dorsal fin. For further diagnoses of this complex (a.k.a. subgenus Allohistium), see Bailey & Gosline (1955) and Page (1981). Etheostoma maydeni is distinguished from E. cinereum by a conspicuous red pigment on the external surface of the lips. Etheostoma maydeni also has modally 11 dorsal spines, 12 dorsal rays, and 23 caudal peduncle scales, whereas E. cinereum has modally 12 dorsal spines, 13 dorsal rays, and 25 caudal peduncle scales. Shepard & Burr (1984) also reported modally 41 vertebrae in populations described herein as E. maydeni and with populations of E. cinereum having modally 42 or 43 vertebrae .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Redlips Darter is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal, usually 0 - 1 m . Subtropical; 37°N - 36°N, 84°W - 85°W North America: restricted to large tributaries of the Cumberland River below Cumberland Falls, USA.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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