A New Species of the Darter Subgenus Doration (Percidae: Etheostoma) from the Caney Fork River System, Tennessee
Etheostoma akatulo, the Bluemask Darter, is described from upper Caney Fork River System of the middle Cumberland River drainage, Tennessee. It is presently known from four tributaries of Great Falls Reservoir on the eastern Highland Rim and is listed as federally endangered. The new species differs from other species of the subgenus Doration by having fully scaled cheeks, complete lateral line, breeding males with bright blue pigment completely covering the lower face, and breeding males with soft dorsal and anal fins lacking orange and blue pigment. Specimens are compared with nominate E. stigmaeum from four drainages and E. jessiae. Etheostoma akatulo typically occurs over sand and gravel substrates downstream of riffles, in moderate runs, or along margins of pools. It inhabits a 37-km reach of Collins River but is found in reaches of 4.3 km or less in Rocky River, Cane Creek, and Caney Fork River. Threats to the species include gravel dredging, pesticides, siltation, and acid mine drainage.Abstract
(A) Etheostoma akatulo, UAIC 10382.02, holotype, breeding male, 45.5 mm SL. (B) Etheostoma akatulo, UAIC 10382.01, adult female, 41.5 mm SL. (C) Etheostoma stigmaeum, UAIC 10791.01, breeding male, 44 mm SL, Alabama, Tuscaloosa Co., Black Warrior River system, Hurricane Creek at US Hwy 11, 5 April 1993. (D) Etheostoma jessiae, UAIC 10372.01, breeding male, 59 mm SL, Alabama, Franklin Co., Tennessee River drainage, Little Bear Creek at AL Hwy 187, 8.0 km S Belgreen, 14 March 1992. Photos by S. R. Layman.
Plots of principal component (PC) scores for Etheostoma akatulo, E. stigmaeum from Mobile Basin, Duck River ( = D), Cumberland River ( = C), and Green River ( = G), and E. jessiae. (A) Plot of meristic PC-I and PC-II. (B) Plot of morphometric sheared PC-II and PC-III for males. (C) Plot of morphometric sheared PC-II and PC-III for females. Polygons bound all individuals.
Distribution of Etheostoma akatulo. Inset of Caney Fork River system enlarged on right. Type locality indicated by dot with star. It and solid dots represent current distribution. Open circles represent historic localities. 1–Cumberland River; 2–Caney Fork River; 3–Collins River; 4–Rocky River; 5–Calfkiller River; 6–Cane Creek; 7–upper Caney Fork River.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: C. J. Ferraris.