The egg-mimic darter (Etheostoma pseudovulatum) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States, where it is only known from the Duck River drainage of Tennessee.[1][2] It inhabits creeks and headwaters, living in pools with very slow current. This species can reach a length of 6.1 cm (2.4 in).[3] The fish's common name refers to round, fish egg-like yellow knobs projecting from the rays of the male’s second dorsal fin, these "false eggs" attract females to spawn with the male.[4]

Egg-mimic darter

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Genus: Etheostoma
Species:
E. pseudovulatum
Binomial name
Etheostoma pseudovulatum
Page & Ceas, 1992

References

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  1. ^ a b NatureServe (2013). "Etheostoma pseudovulatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T202518A18232023. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202518A18232023.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Etheostoma pseudovulatum". NatureServe Explorer An online encyclopedia of life. 7.1. NatureServe. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Etheostoma pseudovulatum". FishBase. February 2014 version.
  4. ^ "Egg-mimic Darter (Etheostoma pseudovulatum)". Tennessee Aquarium. Retrieved 21 October 2020.