Notropis stramineus ( Cope, 1865 )

? Notropis stramineus ( Cope, 1865)

Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 10 A View Figure 10 , 11 View Figure 11 , 12 View Figure 12 , 13 View Figure 13 , 14 View Figure 14 , 15 View Figure 15 , 16 A View Figure 16

Synonymy.

Hybognathus stramineus Cope, 1865: 283; Detroit River, Grosse Isle, Michigan. Lectotype ANSP 4131 (designated by Fowler 1910: 274). View in CoL

Material examined.

Lectotype ANSP 4131 About ANSP , 52.4 mm SL (photograph only); Wayne County: Grosse Ile   GoogleMaps , Michigan; – ROM 104002 About ROM , 4, 31–49 mm SL; York RM: at Kingston Road, Glen Rouge Campground, Rouge River , 43°48'23"N 79°08'02"W; 18 September, 2017. GoogleMaps – ROM 98646 About ROM , 10, 36–54 mm SL; Lake Simcoe , 44°20'16"N 79°13'41"W; 19 June, 2007. GoogleMaps – ROM 99745 About ROM , 1, 31 mm SL; York Regional Municipality: at start of eroding cliff upstream of Dundas Street West, downstream of railway bridge, Humber River , 43°39'44"N 79°30'32"W; 5 May, 2014. GoogleMaps – ROM 89469 About ROM , 3, 39–42 mm SL; Bruce: Sauble River , 44°39'53"N 81°16'20"W; 29 May, 2007. GoogleMaps – ROM 42057 About ROM , 404, 49–65 mm SL; Huron: Maitland River (Great Lakes) , 43°44'53"N 81°43'31"W; 10 June, 1982. GoogleMaps – NYSM 70559 About NYSM , 45, 28–45 mm SL; Erie: Eighteenmile Creek at NYSDEC Public Fishing Access, upstream of mouth, at Old Lake Shore Drive , 42°42'44"N 78°57'59"W; 5 June 2014. GoogleMaps – UMMZ 243085 View Materials , 2, 28–37 mm SL; Wayne: South Grassy Island, Detroit River , 42°13'23"N 83°08'08"W; 16 July, 1935. GoogleMaps – UMMZ 239496 View Materials , 20, 37–56 mm SL; Presque Isle: Grand Lake Creek (outlet) at Mouth in Lake Huron at Thompson Harbor Road; Lake Huron Drainage , 46°07'59"N 83°39'59"W; 30 August, 2001. GoogleMaps – Uncat, AKP 07-16 , 317, 18–58 mm SL; Wayne: Huron River at Hudson Mills Metropark , 42°22'56"N 83°54'51"W; March 2015. GoogleMaps – NYSM 64919 About NYSM , 210, 31–58 mm SL; Ulster: Shawangunk Kill, Route 7 a, by Route 7 , 42°28'08"N 78°45'19"W; 8 July, 2009. GoogleMaps – TCWC 17159.15 View Materials , 24, 35–46 mm SL; Vermilion: Vermilion River at Grape Creek Road crossing , 40°05'05"N 87°35'36"W; 10 June 2013. GoogleMaps – JFBM 43651 View Materials , 7, 45–52 mm SL; Vermilion: Middle Fork Vermilion River at Potomac Collision Rd (720 E), 0.25 miles S of Potomac , 40°17'50"N 87°48'01"W; 27 July, 2004. GoogleMaps – TCWC 17158.05 View Materials , 14, 35–42 mm SL; Kendall: Aux Sable Creek at Bell Road crossing , 41°29'53"N 88°17'57"W; 9 June 2013. GoogleMaps – ROM 43026 About ROM , 4, 46–55 mm SL; Huron: Bayfield River , 43°34'09"N 81°41'51"W; 8 June, 1982. GoogleMaps – NYSM 72734 About NYSM , 24, 25–50 mm SL; Tyler / Doddridge: Flint Run , 39°23'43"N 80°43'58"W; 3 June, 2015. GoogleMaps – NYSM 69037 About NYSM , 18, 31–52 mm SL; Clay: Red Bird Creek, off State Route 66, near intersection with U. S. Route 421 , 37°09'21"N 83°35'19"W; 3 June, 2013. GoogleMaps – ROM 11967 About ROM , 25, 42–49 mm SL; Glengarry: Lake St. Francis , 45°05'19"N 74°30'59"W; 18 June, 1938. GoogleMaps – NYSM 71381 About NYSM , 26, 27–56 mm SL; Saint Lawrence: Robert Moses State Park beach , 45°00'14"N 74°51'06"W; 18 September, 2014. GoogleMaps – NYSM 57545 About NYSM , 11, 35–42 mm SL; Essex: Mouth of Boquet River, to island below, Willsboro , 44°32'39"N 73°24'10"W; 3 August, 2004. GoogleMaps – JFBM 43593 View Materials , 1, 38 mm SL; Edgar: Crabapple Creek , 39°45'13"N 87°35'39"W; 28 July, 2004. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis.

Notropis stramineus is distinguished from all other members of the N. stramineus species group, except N. lucifer sp. nov., by a higher number of vertebrae (36–37 vs. 33–36). Notropis stramineus is distinguished from N. lucifer sp. nov. by a diffuse and even scattering of small melanophores on the head (vs. few, large melanophore clusters), a cross-hatching pattern of melanophores on scales in rows dorsal to the lateral-line scale row (vs. scales in rows dorsal to the lateral line scale row without cross-hatching pattern of melanophores), the presence of a well-developed cleithral stripe (vs. absent or weakly developed), a higher number of lateral-line scales (31–39, modally 36, vs 30–38, modally 31), and in life a lateral bluish sheen and yellow to peachy coloration of the pectoral fin and pectoral-fin base (vs. in life, body primarily silvery, pectoral fin hyaline). Notropis stramineus is distinguished from N. topeka and N. procne by the extent of lateral pigment, existing as a series of “ train track ” markings along the lateral line, surrounded anteriorly and posteriorly by a sparse field of melanophores not reaching beyond two to three scale rows above and below lateral line scale row (vs. a dense, dark lateral stripe of melanophores that extends along the side of body, from snout to base of caudal fin). Notropis stramineus is further distinguished from N. topeka and N. multicorniculatus sp. nov. by the size of tubercles, with many very minute tubercles scattered across most regions of the head, the largest of these concentrated in the subopercular region (vs. fewer, large tubercles, uniform in size in all regions in which present), and further distinguished from N. topeka by tubercle distribution, with tubercles distributed across most regions of the head without clear patterns (vs. tubercles present in only a few regions, namely the rostral, lacrimal, supraorbital, internarial, interorbital, and fronto-occipital regions), and extent of nuptial coloration, with pectoral fins obtaining a yellow, peachy color in spawning males (vs. intense red and orange coloration in spawning males). Notropis stramineus can be further distinguished from N. chihuahua by the absence (vs. presence) of macromelanophores on the lateral surface of the body and head, a cross-hatching pattern on scales reaching to the lateral-line scale row and below anteriorly (vs. cross-hatching pattern restricted to three to four dorsalmost rows of scales anteriorly, and one to two dorsalmost rows of scales posteriorly). Notropis stramineus is most similar in superficial appearance to N. missuriensis and N. multicorniculatus sp. nov., particularly in pigmentation in life and in preservation, but can be distinguished from N. missuriensis and N. multicorniculatus sp. nov. most readily by aspects of tuberculation, with tubercles weakly developed in N. stramineus and inconspicuous to the eye (vs. more well-developed and obvious to the naked eye in nuptial males), and a larger eye, occupying much of the head (orbit diameter 24.5–36.8 HL vs. 23.5–31.2 in N. missuriensis , 19.6–30.6 in N. multicorniculatus sp. nov.). Notropis stramineus is distinguished from Notropis oblitus sp. nov. by a generally greater abundance and concentration of brown and black pigmentation in rows dorsal to the lateral-line scale row in life (vs. scales in rows dorsal to lateral-line scale row with sparse scattering of dark brown pigment), the more pronounced presence of the cross-hatching pattern on the dorsal scale rows in the posterior half of the body in life and in preservation (vs. weakly developed cross-hatching pattern on the posterior half of the body in life and in preservation), as well as a prominent blue-to-purple lateral sheen in life (vs. the reduction or absence of this blue-to-purple sheen on the body side in life).

Description.

Body shape and general appearance as in Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 11 View Figure 11 , 17 View Figure 17 and 12 View Figure 12 , 13 A View Figure 13 – 16 A View Figure 16 . Lateral side of cranium rendered from CT scan shown in Figure 18 View Figure 18 . Hyopalatine arch, opercular bones, and infraorbital series shown in Figure 19 View Figure 19 . Morphometric and meristic data are listed in Tables 7 View Table 7 .

Small-bodied leuciscid fish; maximum size examined 64.5 mm SL. Body slightly compressed, elongate and slender, fusiform with gently sloping anterior profile, snout to dorsal fin insertion sloping more steeply than from dorsal fin to caudal fin. Head triangular / wedge-shaped to rounded, snout slightly rounded to sharp. Ventral profile convex anterior to pelvic-fin origin, and slightly concave from origin of pelvic fin to caudal-fin base. Body depth greatest at point slightly anterior to dorsal-fin insertion, approximately two-thirds distance between pectoral-fin base and anterior point of pelvic-fin insertion, and narrowest at caudal peduncle slightly anterior to insertion of procurrent caudal-fin rays.

Eye large with anteriorly pointing pupil. Mouth gently sloped, subterminal with thin lips. Imaginary horizontal line through anteriormost point of upper jaw passes through lower third of orbit. Posteriormost point of jaw only reaches anterior margin of orbit. Nostrils slightly closer to rounded tip of snout than anterior margin of the eye. Anterior nostril small and elliptical; posterior nostril large and rounded to weakly elliptical in dorsal view. Gill membranes joined at isthmus. Pharyngeal teeth 4–4.

Dorsal- and anal-fin rays iii. 7. Principal caudal fin rays 10 + 9. Dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays 8 (1), 9 (1), 10 (2), or 11 (1). Ventral procurrent caudal-fin rays 8 (2) or 9 (3). Pectoral-fin rays i. 11. ii (4) or i. 12. ii (1). Pelvic-fin rays i. 6. i. Dorsal fin short and rounded, slightly convex at posterior margin. Anal fin rounded with a slightly convex posterior margin. Anal-fin origin posterior to posteriormost insertion of dorsal fin. Insertion of pelvic fin slightly anterior to insertion of dorsal fin. Caudal fin forked, lobes slender, with ventralmost margin of upper lobe and dorsalmost margin of lower lobe weakly convex, approximately of equal length.

Scales cycloid. Lateral line complete, perforating 31 (1), 33 (1), 34 (10), 35 (6), 36 (22), 37 (5), 38 (4) or 39 (1) scales, plus 0 (1), 1 (27) or 2 (22) on base of caudal fin. Scales in predorsal scale row 13 (9), 14 (24), 15 (8), 16 (5) or 17 (4). Circumferential scale rows 9 (4), 10 (6), 11 (22), or 12 (18), including 5 (9), 6 (39) or 7 (2) above the lateral line, and 3 (1), 4 (38), or 5 (11) below. Circumpeduncular scale rows 6 (1), 7 (44), or 8 (5). Scales absent on chest from posterior insertion of pectoral fins anteriorly. Total vertebrae 36 (3) or 37 (3), with either 18 (3) or 19 (3) abdominal vertebrae and 17 (1), 18 (4) or 19 (1) caudal vertebrae. Insertion of first dorsal-fin pterygiophore between neural spines of vertebrae 10 / 12 (1), 11 / 12 (1), 12 / 13 (4) (modally 12 / 13). Insertion of first anal-fin pterygiophore between hemal spines of vertebrae 18 / 19 (4) or 19 / 20 (2). Ribs 14 (3) or 15 (3).

Infraorbital series comprising four or five bones (IO 1–5) (Figs 18 View Figure 18 , 19 View Figure 19 ). IO 1 (lacrimal) a large plate-like bone with concave posterior margin. IO 2 long, tapering toward posterior half (in CT images, divided into two ossifications; Fig. 18 View Figure 18 ). IO 3, approximately twice as long as IO 2, narrowest anteriorly, broader posteriorly. IO 4 large and plate-like, approximately half the size of lacrimal. IO 5, when present, consists nearly entirely of canal ossification, with a small flange of dermal bone projecting anteriorly from shaft of canal. Cephalic lateral-line system comprising the following sensory canals and externally visible pores: infraorbital canal 10 (2), 11 (1) or 12 (1); supraorbital canal 7 (2), 8 (1) or 10 (1); preoperculo-mandibular canal 9 (2), 10 (1), or 12 (1). with 4 (3) or 5 (1) in mandibular portion and 5 (2), 6 (1) or 7 (1) in preopercular portion; otic 3 (3) or 4 (4); temporal 2 (3) or 4 (1). Canals of cephalic lateral-line system commonly exhibit asymmetry.

Cephalic tubercles typically small to medium, not well developed or conspicuous, present in rostral region, sparse in interorbital region, present around outer margin of fronto-occipital region only, present in anterior part of lacrimal and supraorbital regions and throughout lateral portion of preopercular and interorbital regions. Tubercles absent from ventral regions, i. e., gular, interopercular, mandibular, branchiostegal membrane, chest, and ventral portion of preopercular regions. Males at peak of spawning activity may develop several larger tubercles in anterior part of supraorbital region. Minute cephalic tubercles present on nape, disorganized, scattered haphazardly across scales. Cephalic tubercles with wide base, recessed into a ring, with small conical tip projecting upward, small, height not extending far beyond epidermis. Pectoral-fin ray tubercles conical, small and slightly recurved, comparatively more well-developed than cephalic tubercles, and present on anteriormost pectoral-fin rays 1–8, arranged in 5–6 (sometimes more in very large males) slightly irregular rows, decreasing incrementally to one row moving distally to proximally. Tubercles on first ray typically restricted to center of ray (not developed on distal or proximal thirds of fin ray, except occasionally in very large males at peak of spawning activity), in one or two rows (sometimes as many as four in large males). Body tuberculation weakly developed, with tubercles arranged on posterior margin of scales dorsal to and including lateral line scale row, tubercles generally not developed on scales beyond point of dorsal fin insertion.

Coloration.

In preservation, body background color pale yellow to light brown, pigment concentrated more densely on dorsal half than ventral half (Figs 11 View Figure 11 , 17 View Figure 17 ). Lateral-line canals on body outlined above and below with thick speckling of melanophores, creating “ train track ” pattern. Train track pattern continues posteriorly to caudal-fin base, joined at approximately imaginary horizontal line through insertion of anal fin with a broader lateral stripe consisting of diffuse melanophores becoming more concentrated posteriorly. Lateral-line scale row plus one scale row above and below with band of guanine persisting in some specimens in preservation. Lateral band of guanine wider anteriorly than posteriorly, becoming constricted beginning approximately at horizontal line at midway point of pelvic fin. Scales dorsal to and including lateral-line scale row outlined in “ cross-hatching ” pattern, with first ca. 10 scale rows also cross-hatched ventral to lateral-line scale row, decreasing in pigmentation moving posteriorly. Males with densest concentration of melanophores on leading edge of pectoral fin and interradial membranes. Dorsal midline outlined by a thick line of melanophores, widened to a wedge at anterior insertion of dorsal fin where line terminates, to begin again at insertion of last dorsal-fin ray, proceeding posteriorly as a thin line until another widening at insertion point of dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays. Dorsally, cephalic pigmentation is densely scattered as small fields of evenly sized melanophores in all regions (Fig. 14 A View Figure 14 ). Laterally, pigmentation restricted to rostral, lacrimal, supraorbital, and fronto-occipital regions, with pigment more sparsely distributed in dorsalmost portion of opercular region (Fig. 13 A View Figure 13 ). Pigment absent from all ventral regions of head, i. e., gular, interopercular, mandibular, branchiostegal membranes, chest, and ventral portion of preopercular regions (Fig. 15 A View Figure 15 ).

In life, dorsal-half of body straw-colored with a noticeable blue-to-purple sheen midway along body, typically along two scale rows dorsal to lateral-line scale row (Fig. 19 View Figure 19 ). Peritoneum silvery. Orange tinge on pectoral fin and pectoral-fin base, fading distally; more pronounced in males. Guanine abundant laterally, including on head, where a scattering of chromatophores appear as golden flecks speckled sparsely, sometimes gathered in clusters. Dorsal midline with sporadic clusters of chromatophores that shine gold in light, the pattern of which is variable, sometimes in dashes, but also organized as short lines (Fig. 12 B View Figure 12 ).

Distribution.

Notropis stramineus sensu stricto is widely distributed through the northeast of North America, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River mainstem, throughout the Great Lakes, Ohio, upper Illinois (though populations in the Illinois River are possibly non-native; see Discussion section “ Membership and relationships of the Notropis stramineus species group – Notropis stramineus sensu stricto. ”), Tennessee and Cumberland River drainages. Notropis stramineus is absent from the Atlantic Slope, except for the St. Lawrence River drainage. This distribution includes Canada (the provinces Ontario and Quebec), as well as the U. S. states Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Abundant in shallow, silty streams, but also abundant in deeper, slower moving water (e. g., widenings of the Huron River, MI; Fig. S 14). Present, but not abundant, at the type locality (Grosse Ile, MI) as the shoreline has been heavily modified and canalized.