Description of a new species of cryptic snubnose darter (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) endemic to north-central Mississippi.

ABSTRACT: Many subclades within the large North American freshwater fish genus Etheostoma (Percidae) show brilliant male nuptial coloration during the spring spawning season. Traditionally, perceived differences in color were often used to diagnose closely related species. More recently, perceived differences in male nuptial color have prompted further investigation of potential biodiversity using genetic tools. However, cryptic diversity among Etheostoma darters renders male nuptial color as unreliable for detecting and describing diversity, which is foundational for research and conservation efforts of this group of stream fishes. Etheostoma raneyi (Yazoo Darter) is an imperiled, range-limited fish endemic to north-central Mississippi. Existing genetic evidence indicates crypt

SUBMITTER: Sterling KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7469936 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature