Micropterus coosae

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 : 397

Key to members of the Micropterus coosae species group

1. Lateral-line scales 61–67(77% of specimens); scale rows around caudal-peduncle 26–28 (79.4%)...................... 2

- Lateral-line scales 68–74 (94.7%); scale rows around caudal-peduncle 29–32 (89.4%)............................... 3

2. Postfrontal width 10.8–11.4% SL (88.0%; mean = 11.2%); fin rays of posterior portions of dorsal, caudal and anal fins green or yellow-green; endemic to Tallapoosa River drainage.................................... M. tallapoosae ( Fig. 3 A – C)

- Postfrontal width 11.5 to 12.2% SL (100%; mean = 11.8%); fin rays of posterior portions of dorsal, caudal and anal fins bright orange; endemic to Chattahoochee River on Piedmont............................... M. chattahoochae ( Fig. 3 D – F)

3. Blotches on posterior one-half of side of body faint or diffuse (76%); fin rays of posterior portions of dorsal, caudal, anal and pectoral fins red; endemic to Coosa River drainage......................................... M. coosae ( Fig. 2 A – C)

- Blotches on entire side of body distinct (100%); fin rays of posterior portions of dorsal, caudal, anal and pectoral fins green, yellow-green or with faint orange in center of anal fin and occasionally on ventral caudal fin border (no red)............. 4

4. Tongue tooth patch small (less than 1 mm) or absent (86.2%).................................................. 5

- Tongue tooth patch present (100%) and usually medium to large (66.7%); endemic to the Savannah and the Apalachee river drainages on Piedmont................................................. M. cf. coosae (Savannah River; Fig. 1 )

5. Scale rows around caudal peduncle 29 (97.0%; mean 28.8); faint orange on anal fin and usually on anterior border of posterior dorsal and ventral border of caudal; endemic to Black Warrior River drainage.............. M. warriorensis ( Fig. 4 A – C)

- Scale rows around caudal peduncle 30-32 (100%; mean 30.7); no orange on fins; endemic to Cahaba River Piedmont....................................................................................... M. cahabae ( Fig. 2 D – F)

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 2. Pigmentation and pattern of M. coosae (A–C) and M. cahabae (D–F). Micropterus coosae: (A) male (185 mm SL), 7 April 2010; (B) female, (235 mm SL), 16 June 2010; (C) female (76 mm SL), 22 June 2010. Micropterus cahabae: (D) male (195 mm SL), 7 April 2010; (E), female, (142 mm SL), 16 June 2010; (F) male (134 mm SL), 22 June 2010.

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 4. Typical pigmentation and pattern of M. warriorensis (A–C) and a M. henshalli x M. warriorensis hybrid (D) based on pigmentation and meristic characters. Micropterus warriorensis: (A) male (158 mm SL), 3 November 2009; (B) female, (194 mm SL), 3 November 2009; (C) female (146 mm SL), 23 June 2010.