Micropterus tallapoosae Baker, Johnston and Blanton, 2013

Baker, Winston H., Blanton, Rebecca E. & Johnston, Carol E., 2013, Diversity within the Redeye Bass, Micropterus coosae (Perciformes: Centrarchidae) species group, with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 3635 (4), pp. 379-401 : 393-394

Micropterus tallapoosae Baker, Johnston and Blanton , new species

Tallapoosa Bass

Figs. 1 & 3 A–C

Holotype. Alabama. Tallapoosa Co., USMN 398702, 155 mm SL, Emuckfaw Creek, 4.8 km N St. Hwy 22, 8 May 2009.

Paratypes. Alabama. Clay Co., AUM 51064 (1, 204), Tallapoosa River, 8 May 2009; AUM 51065 (1,179), Elkahatchee Creek, US Hwy 63, 29 April 2009.

Additional Materials (nontypes).

Tallapoosa River Drainage

Georgia: Haralson Co., AUM 51070 (4,153–204), Beech Creek, at St. Hwy 120, 3.2 km E Tallapoosa, 9 October 2009. Alabama: Clay Co., AUM 37860 (4, 135–165), Wesobulga Creek, 7.2 km SW Cragford, TS 21E, R9E, S16W, 27 June 1978; AUM 51075 (2, 202–204), Buck Creek, at St. Hwy 49, 8 March 2009. Coosa Co., AUM 51071, (1, 115), Oakachoy Creek, at Oakachoy Covered Bridge, 8 March 2009; AUM 51074, 51077 (2, 115–171), 8 October 2009. Lee Co., (1, 234), Loblockee Creek at Macons Mill, at CR 188, 25 October 2009. Randolph Co., (1, 229), High Pine Creek, 8.0 km W Roanoke, 30 July 1998; (1, 143), Bear Creek, at Lizzie Terrell Rd, 10 April, 2009; AUM 42702 (1, 142), Tallapoosa River, 6.4 km NNW Wadley, 25 June 1984; AUM 42682 (2,159–161), 11 September 1984. Tallapoosa Co., (4, 179–201), Tallapoosa River, 1.6 km N Horseshoe Bend Park, 25 June 1998; (3, 180–232), 19 July 1998; (1, 178), Tallapoosa River, 1.6 km downstream from confluence of Fox Creek, 23 September 1998; AUM 51073 (5, 131–220), Tallapoosa River, 4.8 km N Jaybird Creek, 3 November 2008; AUM 51068 (2,189–207), Hillabee Creek, Walls Farm, Champion Rd, 7 March 2009; AUM 51069 (2, 171–219), 9 April 2009; AUM 51072 (3, 151–179), Elkahatchee Creek, at St. Hwy 63 S, 29 April 2009; (2, 138–155), Emuckfaw Creek, 4.8 km N St. Hwy 22 (near Zana), 2 November 2009; (1, 108), Erwin Shoals, Tallapoosa River, 28 June 2010.

Diagnosis. A species of the M. coosae species group that is a distinct genetic lineage and differs from all members of the group except M. chattahoochae , by having larger scales (mean 2.9% SL vs. 2.7% or less), fewer lateral-line scales 63–67 (in 77.5%; mode = 65 or 66) vs. 68–74 (in 94.7%; mode = 69 or greater), scales around the caudal peduncle 26–28 (in 85.0%; mode = 28) vs. 29–32 (in 88.3%; mode = 29 or greater), lateral-line scales plus scales around the caudal peduncle 89–98 (mode = 93) vs. 96 or more (mode = 98 or greater), and 10–13 vertical bars with the 6–12 long (extending well below body midline) vertical bars along the midline of the body, anteriorly, followed by 2–5 vertically elongate spots along the midline, posteriorly (Tables 2 & 9, Figs. 1 & 3 A–C ); from all species except M. cahabae , by lacking orange or red pigments on fin rays (fin rays green or yellow-green); distinguished from M. chattahoochae by a narrower postfrontal width (11.2% SL vs. 11.8%); further distinguished from M. chattahoochae , and M. cf. coosae (Savannah River) by smaller tooth patch (less than 1.0 mm in 55%, absent in 25% of individuals examined vs. 1.0 mm or greater in 66.7% or more, absent in 0.0%–9.0%); and from M. warriorensis by more often having a tooth patch (absent in 25% vs. 83%).

Description. Micropterus tallapoosae is a small species of bass that attains 406 mm SL and 1.8 kg. Morphological and meristic values for diagnostic characters are given in Tables 2–9, and general body shape is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 A–C .

Postfrontal head width 10.8–11.6% (11.2%), scale width 2.5–3.2% (2.9%), tongue tooth patch size 0–4.0 mm (mode = 1.0); lateral-line scales 63–70 (65, 66), scales above lateral line 6–8 (7), scales below lateral line 9–13 (11), scales around caudal peduncle 26–30 (28); anterior dorsal-fin spines 9, posterior dorsal-fin spine 1, anal-fin spines 3; pectoral-fin rays 14–17 (15), posterior dorsal-fin rays 11–13 (12), anal-fin rays 10–11 (10), caudal-fin rays 17; pyloric caeca unbranched.

Body above midline green often with bronze shimmer; below midline white, on spawning males often with a bluish tint anterior of the pelvic fins; posterior to pelvic fins white with rows of black-dotted scales, often irregular dark shaded areas. Venter uniformly white. Midline body with row of 10–13 blotches, anterior 6–12 long vertical bars and remainder vertically elongated spots. Dorso-lateral row with 9–11 irregular spots extending from area just above eye to posterior margin of posterior dorsal fin.

Spines of anterior dorsal fin dark green, often tipped with white; membranes translucent medium green. Posterior dorsal-fin rays medium green with anterior one-half of margin usually white; membranes translucent green with dark green dots at base. Caudal-fin rays medium green with posterior one-half of superior and inferior margins having white borders; membranes translucent medium green with dark green dots at base. Anal-fin rays medium green with fin margin white; membranes white at base with small scales extending one-third the distance to the posterior tip on to the membranes; distal three-fourths of membranes transparent, usually, dark green dots present along central portions. Pelvic-fin rays white; membranes transparent. Pectoral-fin rays yellowish-green and membranes transparent. No specimens of M. tallapoosae have been observed with orange or red pigmentation on any portion of fins.

Distribution. This species is restricted to streams in the Tallapoosa River system above the Fall Line ( Fig. 5 ).

Etymology. This species is named for the Tallapoosa River, to which it is endemic.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Typical pigmentation and pattern of members of the M. coosae species group: M. coosae (Coosa River), 198 mm SL, Cheaha Creek, Hwy 93, 9.6 km N Talladega, Talladega Co., AL; Micropterus cahabae (Cahaba River), 195 mm SL, Shoal Creek, Hwy 119, Shelby Co., AL; M. chattahoochae (Chattahoochee River), 158 mm SL, Centralhatchee Creek, 1.6 km W Centralhatchee, Heard Co., GA; M. tallapoosae (Tallapoosa River), 155 mm SL, Emuckfaw Creek, 4.8 km N Hwy 22, Tallapoosa Co., AL; M. warriorensis (Black Warrior River), 194 mm SL, Calvert Prong, Black Warrior River, 4.0 km N Oneonta, Blount Co., AL; M. cf. coosae (Savannah River), 164 mm SL, Hudson River, jct. Hwy 29 and Hwy 8, Madison Co., GA, 24 May 2009.

FIGURE 3. Pigmentation and pattern of M. tallapoosae (A–C) and M. chattahoochae (D–F). Micropterus tallapoosae: (A) male (138 mm SL), 2 November 2009; (B) female (155 mm SL), 2 November 2009; (C) juvenile (108 mm SL), 28 June 2010. Micropterus chattahoochae: (D) male (179 mm SL), 27 April 2010; (E) female, (158 mm SL), 15 June 2010; (F) male (101 mm SL), 20 June 2010.

FIGURE 5. Distribution of the M. coosae species group in the Mobile Bay and adjacent drainages based on specimens examined. Stars, M. warriorensis; triangles, M. cahabae; circles, M. coosae; squares, M. tallapoosae; plus symbols, M. chattahoochae. Symbols correspond to those in Figure 6.