Scientific Name
Etheostoma marmorpinnum

Common Name
Marbled Darter

Biology
Etheostoma marmorpinnum is distinguished from all other members of the species complex by higher percentage of belly covered by scales (60?80% vs. 10% or less); higher percentage of body area along the first dorsal-fin base covered with scales (100% vs. 70% or less); dark distinct marbling in second dorsal fin of nuptial males (vs. lighter diffuse marbling or marbling absent); narrower band width for caudal fin (range = 12?15% of fin length vs. 15?25%) and anal-fin (range = 29?33% vs. 33?58%); more scales around caudal peduncle (25 vs. 23 or 24); and higher first dorsal fin (D1H, =117 vs. 105 or less). The species is further distinguished from E. percnurum by fewer caudal fin rays (15 vs. 18); narrower distal band on pectoral fin (range = 17?20% vs. 27?32% of fin length) and second dorsal fin (14?21% vs. 23?25% of fin height); and by prominent tessellation of medial region of caudal fin of nuptial males (vs. uniformly dusky). Further distinguished from E percnurum and E. sitikuense

Classification

Classified By

Blanton & Jenkins, 2008

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Perches (Percidae)

Distribution

Region

North America

Distribution

North America: USA. Etheostoma marmorpinnum occurs in lower Little River (Tennessee drainage), Blount County, Tennessee, but is generally rare in the upstream reaches. The species does not appear to be continuously distributed. The stronghold is just upstream of the backwaters of Fort Loudoun Reservoir (Layman 1991). Also known from a single specimen from the South Fork Holston River in Sullivan County, Tennessee, collected in 1947, three years before construction of the South Fork Holston Dam was completed. The capture site was 0.6 rkm above the dam, whose tailwater has long been and continues to be cold-water. The species is now extirpated from the Holston River (Ref. 79849).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

3.15 s.e. 0.41 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

4.1 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries:

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (11 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated