Early Development of the Stippled Darter, Etheostoma Punctulatum and Arkansas Darter, Etheostoma Cragini

Early developmental stages of the stippled darter (Etheostoma punctulatum) and the Arkansas darter (E. cragini) were compared. The Arkansas darter had a smaller egg (1.5 mm average diameter) and prolarva at hatching (4.0 mm) than the stippled darter, which had an average egg diameter 1.7 mm and newly hatched prolarvae 5.4 and 6.0 mm TL. The smallest stippled darter juvenile was 14.6 mm TL and the smallest Arkansas darter juvenile measured 13.5 mm TL. Several characters were found that helped separate the larvae in field samples. Larval habitats were sampled and darter larvae were found to be distributed throughout the habitats sampled. A hybrid was produced and raised to the juvenile stage. Lateral line length and number of dorsal fin spines in the hybrid were intermediate relative to the parent species.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year

1988

Author dc:creator

• Allen, Kathleen M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Charles Taber

• Biology

Statement dc:rights

• © Kathleen M Allen

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/191

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1192