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Walleye and Darters—Family Percidae
- Texas A&M University Press
- Chapter
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11 Western Sand Darter Ammocrypta clara Jordan and Meek, 1885 RANGE: Neches, Sabine, and Red river basins. HABITAT: Rivers and creeks with runs. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Cheek and opercle partly scaled. (2) Opercle with large spine. (3) Nape with few or no scales. (4) Belly, prepectoral area, and breast unscaled. (5) Dorsal region with small, dark spots forming a thin middorsal line (6) Lateral region with faint dashes that may be absent. Dashes may connect to form a midlateral stripe. (7) Dorsal fin with 9–13 spines. (8) Anal fin with 1 spine. (9) Lateral line scales: 63–84. DIMENSIONS: Up to 2.3 in (59 mm). FIN COUNTS: Anal soft fin rays 8–11; dorsal soft fin rays 9–13. COLORATION: Dorsal region pale yellow with small dark spots forming a thin middorsal line; lateral region translucent with faint dashes that may connect to form a midlateral stripe; ventral region silvery white. Western sand darter, Ammocrypta clara, 2 in (51 mm) Walleye and Darters—Family Percidae 1 Scaly Sand Darter Ammocrypta vivax Hay, 1882 RANGE: San Jacinto, Trinity, Neches, Sabine, and Red river basins. HABITAT: Rivers and creeks in runs. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Cheeks and preopercles scaled. (2) Thin, dark stripes on spiny dorsal fin. (3) Dorsal region with 10–15 dark spots that may extend onto lateral region. (4) Nape partly scaled. (5) Scales on prepectoral area and edges of breast (scales embedded). (6) Midline of belly scaleless. (7) Midlateral region with 9–16 dark blotches that are taller than wide. (8) First dorsal fin with 8–14 spines. (9) Anal fin with 1 spine. (10) Lateral line slightly (or not at all) bent downward posteriorly with 58–79 scales. (11) Thin, dark stripes on caudal fin. DIMENSIONS: Up to 2.7 in (69 mm). FIN COUNTS: Anal soft fin rays 7–10; dorsal soft fin rays 9–12; pectoral soft fin rays 7–13. COLORATION: Body pale yellow to white. Dorsal region with 10–15 dark spots; lateral region with 9–16 dark blotches. The dorsal and caudal fins have dark stripes while the anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins have dark pigment along the rays. Scaly sand darter, Ammocrypta vivax, 2.4 in (61 mm) Walleye and Darters—Family Percidae [3.238.64.201] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 10:49 GMT) 13 Redspot Darter Etheostoma artesiae (Hay, 1881) RANGE: San Jacinto River basin northeast to the Sabine River basin. HABITAT: Headwaters, rivers, and creeks, in pools, riffles, and runs. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Orbital bars notable. (2) Cheeks scaled or unscaled. (3) Mouth terminal. (4) Frenum present. (5) Gill membranes moderately connected . (6) Nape and opercle partly to fully scaled. (7) Dark humeral spots posterior to opercle. (8) Breast usually unscaled. (9) Lateral line incomplete; lateral series scales: 45–75, with 34–68 pored. (10) Lateral region with red or yellow dots along with blue or brown vertical bars; may not be noticeable. (11) Small, dark caudal spots (3), aligned vertically. (12) Anal fin with 2 spines. DIMENSIONS: Up to 3.5 in (89 mm). FIN COUNTS: Anal soft fin rays 6–9; dorsal soft fin rays 11–16; pectoral soft fin rays 12–14; pelvic soft fin rays. COLORATION: Dorsal region olive with 8–10 brown saddle blotches; dorsal and lateral region with brown mottling pattern; lateral region with red (males) and yellow (females) dots along with blue (males) or brown (females) vertical bars, which are most notable posteriorly. Dorsal fin of males with red base band, with a red-yellow band medially and a blue margin. Anal and caudal fins have a red base band with blue margins. First dorsal fins of females are spotted with a red-orange submarginal band; second dorsal fin has dark brown bands. Breeding males have bright red spots on lateral region, blue breast, red-orange belly, red and blue bands in median fins; pelvic and pectoral fins are blue. Redspot darter, Etheostoma artesiae, breeding adult, 3.2 in (81 mm) Redspot darter, Etheostoma artesiae, nonbreeding adult 3 in (76 mm) Walleye and Darters—Family Percidae 14 Mud Darter Etheostoma asprigene (Forbes, 1878) RANGE: Neches River drainage basin north to the Red River basin. HABITAT: Rivers and creeks in riffles. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Cheeks and opercles scaled. (2) Dark preorbital and suborbital bars; the latter may be faint in some specimens. (3) Nape with scales. (4) Breast without scales. (5) Belly scaled; males may lack belly scales anteriorly. (6) Mottling pattern on nape and anterior lateral region. (7) Dorsal region with...