Citico Darter

📖 Overview

Citico Darter (Etheostoma sitikuense), first described by Blanton, 2008 is a small fish in the family Percidae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 5.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Temperate waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Vulnerable.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Etheostoma sitikuense is distinguished from all members of the E. percnurum species complex by more pored lateral-line scales (34 vs. 28 or fewer); intermediate anal-fin band width (range = 33–39% vs. 49–58% in E. lemniscatum and E. percnurum and 29–33% in E. marmorpinnum); fewer transverse scale rows (15 vs. 16); shorter pectoral (P1L, =240 vs. 245 or greater) and pelvic (P2L, =180 vs. 197 or greater) fins; and wider (BW, =80 vs. 69 or less), deeper (BD1, =178 vs. 173 or less and BD2, =158 vs. 153 or less) body. E. sitikuense is further distinguished from E. percnurum and E. lemniscatum by narrower distal band on the second-dorsal fin (range = 9–16% of fin height vs. 23–25%). From E. percnurum and E. marmorpinnum by distal caudal-fin band width (range = 15–18% of fin length vs. 12–15% in E. marmorpinnum and 17–25% in E. percnurum); percentage of area along first-dorsal fin base scaled (70% vs. 20% in E. percnurum and 100% in E. marmorpinnum); and intermediate number of scales around caudal peduncle (24 vs. 23 or 25, respectively). From E. lemniscatum and E. marmorpinnum by fewer lateral-line scales (43 vs. 44). From E. percnurum by diffuse marbling or stippling in medial portion of second dorsal fin of nuptial males (vs. uniformly dusky); tessellations in medial portion of caudal fin of nuptial males (vs. uniformly dusky); narrower distal band on pectoral fin (range = 14–20% vs. 29–32%); and fewer caudal-fin rays (15 vs. 18); and from E. marmorpinnum by lower percentage of the belly covered by scales (10% vs. 60–80%). Means of other measurements were also informative .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Citico Darter is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate North America: USA.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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