(Percidae: Etheostoma), with Descriptions of Five New Species

Morphological Diversity and Phylogenetics of the DarterSubgenus Doration (Percidae: Etheostoma), with Descriptionsof Five New SpeciesSTEVEN R. LAYMANGeosyntec Consultants1255 Roberts Blvd NWKennesaw, GA 30144 USAslayman@geosyntec.comRICHARD L. MAYDENDepartment of Biology3507 Laclede AveSaint Louis UniversitySt. Louis, MO 63103 USAmaydenrl@slu.eduABSTRACTThe evolutionary diversity and phylogenetic relationships of darters of the subgenus Doration were investigatedusing variation in morphology and male breeding colors. A revision of the subgenus is presented, with redescriptionsof Etheostoma stigmaeum, E. jessiae, E. meadiae, descriptions of five new species, distributional data, comparisons,and a key to the species. Along with E. akatulo, a total of nine species are recognized in the subgenus.New species are described, including E. obama from the Duck River system, E. gore from the Cumberland Riverdrainage, E. jimmycarter from the Green River drainage, E. teddyroosevelt from the Arkansas and upper White riverdrainages of the Ozark Highlands, and E. clinton from the upper Ouachita River system of the Ouachita Highlands.Evidence was found that specimens from Little Bear Creek, Alabama, represent pure E. jessiae rather than hybridswith E. stigmaeum from adjacent Bear Creek. Patterns of morphological and allozyme variation suggested possibleintrogressive hybridization between E. jessiae and E. meadiae in the Clinch River system. Phylogenetic relationshipswere evaluated using 34 discrete breeding color, morphological, and behavioral characters. Doration was supportedas a monophyletic group with E. akatulo sister to a clade containing all other species in the subgenus. Relationshipswere well resolved, with the exception of a trichotomy involving new species from the Duck and Cumberland riversand the ancestor of a clade of new species from the Green and Arkansas/White rivers.Key Words: darters, Percidae, Etheostoma, Doration, new species, phylogenetic relationshipsINTRODUCTIONSpecies diversity and phylogenetic relationships ofdarters of the subgenus Doration of Etheostoma are poorlyknown. Doration was resurrected as a subgenus by Cole(1967) to include the nominal species Etheostoma stigmaeumand E. jessiae, former members of subgenus Boleosoma (Baileyand Gosline, 1955). Cole (1967) diagnosed the subgenuson the basis of the elongate, tubular, genital papilla ofbreeding females and the development of male nuptial tubercleson pelvic and anal fin rays and ventral body scales.Howell (1968) examined meristic variation in DorationBull. Alabma Mus. Nat. Hist. 30:1–83November 1, 2012