Editor’s Note Henry L. Bart, Jr. The publication of this issue of Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany (TSZB) marks the end of an era and the passing of a legendary figure in the biology of the southeast region of North America. This is final print issue of TSZB. The print ver¬ sion has finally succumbed to the challenges we have faced sustaining funding for printing and mailing this predominantly exchange-based periodical. With this issue, we are changing the format of TSZB to ‘Open Access’. The contents will be availa¬ ble for download free-of-charge via the Internet. We will continue selling reprints and complete back issues to anyone wishing to have these until our supply runs out. Individuals and institutions interested in obtaining back issues should visit: http:// www.museum.tulane.edu/publications/tszbback.shtml. PDF’s of scanned back issues of Tulane Studies in Zoology and TSZB can also be obtained without cost from the Biodiversity Heritage Tibrary (http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/title/5361). This issue of TSZB also contains what is very likely to be the final lead- authored publication of Dr. Royal D. Suttkus, who passed away on 28 December 2009, less than six months shy of his 90th birthday. Royal Suttkus, or “Sut”, as he was affectionately known to family and friends, holds a special place in southeastern ichthyology, having described a significant component of the region’s ichthyofauna. His insatiable appetite and great skill at field collecting are legendary. The collections he amassed over a professional career spanning 65 years - primarily fishes, but also important collections of plants, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, and mammals - constitute one of the most comprehensive records of regional biodiversity in existence and will serve organismal research for many decades to come. The fol¬ lowing account of his remarkable life is excerpted from an obituary published in the journal Copeia in May 2010. Suttkus was born 11 May 1920 in Ballville, Ohio, the third of four children of John Albright Suttkus and Myna Touise Schultz Suttkus. Royal, as he was called as a boy, developed a love for natural history in early childhood. He hunted rabbits and pheasant with Brother Merlin, and enjoyed birding, gathering wildflowers and collect¬ ing insects. He taught his friends about horned worms and hawk moths. He fished with his father below the hydrodam on the Sandusky River, catching white and black crappie. He caught small fish with his hands while searching for crayfish among slabs of rock. He recalls seeing redhorse suckers spawning along the Sandusky River and shooting an Egyptian goose with a bow and arrow along the Grand River in Michigan. He read Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species while in high school. Suttkus graduated from Fremont Ross High School in 1937 then worked in a celery garden for 2 years to earn money for college. In the fall of 1939, he enrolled in Michigan State University, eventually majoring in Wildlife Management. He joined the R.O.T.C. at Michigan State, where he trained in field artillery. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he enrolled in Officer’s Commission School. When he finished his training, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and attached to the 686th Field Artil¬ lery, an all African American battalion. His battalion went to South Wales in 1944 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 32: 1-5. 2012 1 2 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No. 1 2012] then crossed the English Channel to France, where his training was put to immediate use in the Battle of the Bulge. After his discharge from the Army in June 1946, he was accepted to the gradu¬ ate program in the School of Agriculture at Cornell University, where he studied under Edward Raney. He met his bride to be, Jeanne Elizabeth Robinson, while working for New York Fish and Game on Saranac Lake. They were married in December 1947. Son, Jayson, the first of three children, was born in Ithaca, NY, two years later in Janu¬ ary 1949 (Fig. 1). Figure 1. Suttkus pictured with wife Jeanne Robin¬ son Suttkus, and kids Jayson (far left), Ramona (middle) and Jan (right.) Suttkus accepted a faculty posi¬ tion in Zoology at Tulane University in the fall of 1950. Daughter, Ramona, was born in New Orleans in April 1951; Daughter, Jan, was born in September 1954. Suttkus devoted his career at Tulane to collection building and studies of the taxonomy and natural history of specimens he collected. From 1963 to 1968, he was Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded, Environmental Biology Training Program, a summer program in which students received lectures and training while in the field collecting and preparing specimens of plants, inverte¬ brates, fishes, herps, birds, mammals, and fossils. In 1963, Suttkus started a consulting business with his long-time Tulane col¬ league, the late Gerald E. Gunning. Their first contract was a survey of ten stations on the Pearl River near Bogalusa, Louisiana for a pulp and paper mill. The survey started with monthly samples in April 1963, then switched to quarterly (seasonal) collections a year later (Fig. 2). A quarterly survey of eight stations on the upper Pearl River was initiated in 1973. Suttkus continued both surveys until 2005. A survey of the lower Alabama River started in 1969 and continued until 2000. A survey of the Red River near Alexandria, LA was established in 1976 and ended in 2002. Shorter-term surveys were conducted on the Perdido Bay System, Sabine River, Mississippi River and Cal¬ casieu River. All of the collecting on these surveys was supervised by Suttkus and in¬ volved standardized gear, technique and environmental sampling. Suttkus also collect¬ ed marine organisms during oceanic cruises in the Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, off the coasts of Peru and Venezuela, and around the Galapagos Islands. All of the speci¬ mens collected (fishes and any amphibians, reptiles, mussels, and decapods that hap¬ pened to be collected) were preserved and ultimately cataloged into Tulane ? s natural history collections. Suttkus published an impressive body of scholarly work during his career. His most recent cv lists 125 papers, 54 of which deal directly with fish taxonomy and sys- tematics, 41 report on various aspects of fish life history and/or distribution, and 27 are reports based on his fish monitoring surveys. As a sign of his taxonomic breadth, 11 of Editor’s Note 3 his papers deal with mammals, three deal with crayfishes, and one deals with fresh¬ water mussels. Among his systematic and taxonomic contributions are descriptions of 35 new fish species, 29 of which are freshwater species largely confined to the southeastern United States. It is in the southeastern U.S. that his contributions to knowledge of biology have been greatest. It is hard to collect anywhere in the south¬ east without encountering at least one of his species. Moreover, his taxonomic treatments are among the most thorough in the profession in terms of numbers of specimens examined. Suttkus directed 24 graduate stu¬ dents during his career (10 M.S., 14 Ph.D.), including important contributors to ichthyology such as Rudolph J. Miller (M.S. 1958), John S. Ramsey (Ph.D. 1965), James E. Thomerson (Ph.D. 1965), Clyde D. Barbour (Ph.D. 1966), Michael D. Dahlberg (Ph.D. 1966), Kenneth Relyea (Ph.D. 1967), Roy J. Irwin (Ph.D. 1970), Glenn H. Clemmer (Ph.D. 1971), Anthony Laska (M.S. 1970; Ph.D. 1973), Robert C. Cashner (Ph.D. 1974), the late Salvador Contreras-Balderas (M.S., 1966; Ph.D. 1975), John H. Caruso (Ph.D. 1977), J. Van Connor (Ph.D. 1977), and the late Bruce A. Thompson (Ph.D. 1977). Suttkus’s greatest and most lasting contributions to southeastern biology are his collections. He built the Tulane fish collection on a foundation of just two mounted fish specimens left over from an early exhibit museum. By 1968, the fish collection had grown to a size of just over two million specimens, overfilling its space on the main Tulane campus. Later that year, the fish collection, along with birds, mammals and ver¬ tebrate fossil collections left over from the early exhibit museum, plus the thousands of specimens of plants, herps, mammals and fossils amassed by Suttkus and students in the Environmental Biology Training Program, were moved to a 500 acre parcel of land on the Mississippi River near Belle Chasse, LA, which Tulane had acquired from the U.S. Navy. The land, which had served as an ammunition storage depot during WWII, eventually became the F. Edward Hebert “Riverside” Research Laboratories. The col¬ lections became part of what was initially called the Systematics and Environmental Biology Laboratory. In 1976, Suttkus convinced the Tulane administration to formally recognize the collections at Riverside as the Tulane University Museum of Natural History, and to appoint him as the Museum's first Director. In the years since the move to Riverside, the fish collection has grown to over 200,000 lots and more than seven million specimens (7,369,607 at this writing). Over a career spanning 45 years at Tulane, Suttkus made 12,060 collections. Remarkably, he i Figure 2. Suttkus surveying the Pearl River in the 1960’s. 4 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] had a hand in collecting 5,327,512 of the specimens in the fish collection. In addition to fishes, Suttkus collected over 5,000 mammals, 6,000 amphibians and reptiles, rough¬ ly 6,000 vascular plants (now in the Tulane Herbarium), and numerous aquatic mol- lusks, crustaceans, and fossils. Other biologists are now making valuable use of all of these specimens. One measure of this is the number of species that have been named in Suttkus’s honor (six fishes, two decapods and one fossil oyster). Based on past and ongoing use of material from the Tulane fish collection, it is clear that Suttkus’s collec¬ tions will teach us much about taxonomy, distribution, and many other aspects of the biology of species he collected for many years to come. In 1989, in anticipation of Suttkus's retirement, the Tulane Administration brought in a team of external reviewers to evaluate collections in the Museum and to make recommendations on their continued maintenance by Tulane. In their report to the administration, the reviewers described the fish collection as "a treasure of great national and international importance" and strongly recommended maintenance of the fish collection at Tulane. Suttkus offi¬ cially retired from Tulane University in 1990. However, he continued to credit the university and the museum of natu¬ ral history on papers published since this time. In fall 2000, a jubilee celebration was held in New Orleans to honor Sutt¬ kus’s 50 years of service to Tulane Uni¬ versity and his contributions to south¬ eastern biology (Fig. 3, http:// www.museum.tulane.edu/sutjubilee/). The event was attended by most of his family, former students, and his closest professional colleagues and associates. A symposium was held in his honor, featuring talks on Suttkus’s contribu¬ tions to mammalogy, botany, malacolo¬ gy, invertebrate paleontology, training in all of biology, and, of course, ichthy¬ ology. Colleague, Dave Etnier, gave a talk entitled Collecting caddisflies: how much is enough? during which he introduced the term “ Suttkus ian” to describe the large col¬ lecting efforts that are required to collect sufficient numbers of male caddisflies needed for species descriptions. Colleague, Franklin “Buck” Snelson, wrote a song entitled “Collecting Machine ”, which was played with a special slide show at the Jubilee. The song and slide presentation can be viewed at http://www.museum.tulane.edu/sutjubilee/ suttsong.html. During a special closing ceremony held under a tent beside the fish collection, the Dean of Arts and Sciences read a proclamation from the President, Faculty and Ad¬ ministrators of Tulane University, officially renaming the Tulane Fish Collection, the Figure 3. A photo of Suttkus from the fall of 2000 in the fish collection that would soon be named in his honor. Editor’s Note 5 Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection, and granting Suttkus the title of Emeritus Curator of Fishes. Suttkus continued collecting and depositing specimens in the fish collection until Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005. The high winds and storm surge from the hurricane flooded and badly damaged Suttkus’s home near the beach in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He lost nearly all of his possessions, including his field notes and most of his library. What little remains is now part of the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection. After the hurricane, Suttkus and Jeanne moved to an apartment in the Atlanta suburbs, where Suttkus continued to publish his research. In recent years, he had been publishing taxonomic treatments on Menidia, suckers of subfamily Ictiobinae, and spe¬ cies descriptions, including papers based on his dissertation research on Pteronotropis. He also had been battling prostate cancer. He died peacefully, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife Jeanne, son Jayson, daughters Ramona and Jan and their families, Brother Hazen and numerous extended family members. Tulane University is in the process of divesting itself of all of its natural history collections, except the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection and the Tulane Herbarium. The other collections are being donated to other institutions, but most will remain in the southeast region. The vertebrate collections (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and vertebrate fossils) are being transferred to the Fouisiana State University Museum of Natural Science. The invertebrate collections (decapods crustaceans and mollusks) are being transferred to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Suttkus’s plants were either incorporated into the Tulane University Herbarium, or distributed to other herbaria (duplicates) following tradition in botanical collections. The Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection will remain at Tulane for the foreseeable future, where it will form the core of a new research facility - the Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute (TUBRI). A NEW DARTER OF SUBGENUS OLIGOCEPHALUS , GENUS ETHEOSTOMA , FROM SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA Royal D. Suttkus Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute, Belle Chasse, LA 70037-3098 Henry L. Bart, Jr. Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute, Belle Chasse, LA 70037-3098 AND David A. Etnier University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-1610 Abstract A new species of darter of subgenus Oligocephalus , genus Etheostoma , is herein de¬ scribed relative to three similar and geographically proximal Oligocephalus - E. aspri- gene (Forbes), E. collettei Birdsong & Knapp, and E. swaini (Jordan) - largely con¬ fined to the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Central Lowlands of the eastern United States. The new species occurs in the Neches, Sabine and Calcasieu river systems of east Tex¬ as and western Louisiana. It is most closely related to E. asprigene. It differs from all of the above species primarily in having a longer spinous dorsal fin base and a narrow¬ er transpelvic width. Nuptial males of the new species differ in breeding coloration and have significantly shorter snouts and caudal peduncles, and narrower bodies than nuptial males of E. asprigene and other Oligocephalus compared. The new species is most similar to E. aprigene in physiognomy and body pigmentation. Keywords: New species, Etheostoma asprigene, Oligocephalus, Neches River, Sabine River, Calcasieu River Introduction In this paper we describe a new species of darter of subgenus Oligocephalus , genus Etheostoma, and diagnose it relative to three similar and geographically proxi¬ mal Oligocephalus—E. asprigene (Forbes), E. collettei Birdsong & Knapp, and E. swaini (Jordan). We compare meristic and morphometric data of the new species with that of E. asprigene and E. collettei from localities throughout their ranges, and with that of E. swaini from only eastern tributaries to the Mississippi River and from the Pearl River system (type locality). The new species is most closely related to E. aspri¬ gene. We follow Lang and Mayden (2007) in placing the new species in the E. aspri¬ gene species group, along with E. asprigene , E. swaini , E. collettei and the geograph¬ ically restricted and spring-adapted E. ditrema and E. nuchale. Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 32: 6-30. 2012 6 New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas 7 Materials and Methods Specimens of the new species and comparative material of E. asprigene , E. collettei , and E. swaini were borrowed from the collections at Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), Louisiana State University (LSUMZ), Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS), Stanford University (SU) housed at California Academy of Scienc¬ es, Tulane University (TU), University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS), University of Tennessee (UT), and United States National Museum of Natural History (USNM ). Paratypes of the new species were deposited at the following institutions not already identified above as detailed in the material listing below: Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia (ANSP), Cornell University Vertebrate Museum (CUVM, Texas Natural History Collection (TNHC), University of Alabama (UAIC), University of Florida Mu¬ seum of Natural History (UF) and University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ). In the listing of type material, each catalog number is followed by the number of specimens seen and range of standard length (SL) in millimeters, e.g. (15, 28-50). In addition to standard compass directions (with the following “of’ deleted), the fol¬ lowing abbreviations are used: Cr. = Creek, R. = River, mi = mile(s), trib. = tributary, Hwy = Highway, Rd = Road, FM = Farm Road, jet. = junction, Co. = County. In lists of materials not designated as types, the catalog number is followed by the number of specimens seen, enclosed in parentheses. Although catalog numbers identify “lots’' of specimens, we intentionally use mileage figures, rather than metric figures, in listing of materials because mileage figures are so recorded in the catalog and perhaps more im¬ portantly on the original labels in the jars. Collection dates are not included in the list¬ ing of nontype materials. Materials examined of E. asprigene , E. collettei , and E. swaini are listed only by institutional acronym and catalog number under “Additional Material Examined” after the Literature Cited; for each subdivision of a species' range listed in Tables 1-6 (E . asprigene , Ohio River basin, etc.), the mean (x), number of specimens counted (N), and range (W) are listed for subsystems (Wabash River sys¬ tem, Green River system, etc.) that appear to have identical values. Meristic ranges listed in text include 90% or more of the counts bracketed by parenthetical extreme values, e.g., 16-21 (14-22). Except for recently collected specimens from the type locality used in color photographs, all of our collections of the new species extend from 25 January 1971 to 24 March 1979 from the Neches River system, from 14 July 1964 to 9 July 1985 from the Sabine River system, and from 7 June 1956 to 12 March 1981 from the Calcasieu River drainage. Names used for associated species follow Nelson et al. (2004). Counts and measurements were made as described in Hubbs and Lagler (1958) except as follows: transverse body scales were counted from the origin of the anal fin diagonally upward to the base of the spinous dorsal fin, with scales of reduced size along base of dorsal fin included in the count; gill rakers, counted on the anterior arch on either the right or left side, included both dorsal and ventral rudiments. Presence or absence of scales on the nape, operculum, lower cheek, breast, and prepectoral area 8 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] was determined by passing a jet of compressed air over the area; deeply embedded scales might have been overlooked. Twenty body measurements were made with needle-point dial calipers and rec¬ orded to the nearest 0.1 mm for samples of nuptial males and females from Neches and Calcasieu river populations of the new species (TU 200366, TU 111804, TU 106025, TU 111951, TU 200398), E. asprigene (MMNS 30684.0) and E. swaini (TU 55398, TU 66841, TU 66983) from the lower Mississippi River, and E. collettei from Ouachita and Red rivers (TU 55133, TU 76101, TU 93274). Caudal peduncle length was meas¬ ured from the posterior insertion of the anal fin to the middle of the hypural plate. Trans-pelvic width was measured between the outer bases of the pelvic spines. Data for 19 of the measurements separated by sex were regressed on standard length to ad¬ just the measurements to a common body size. The residuals from these regressions were subjected to unbalanced Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Canonical Discri¬ minant Analysis (CDA) to test for differences in body proportions. Statistical Analyses were performed using the REG, GEM (unbalanced ANOVA) and CANDISC (CDA) procedures in the software package SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute, Inc., 2002-03). Etheostoma thompsoni Suttkus, Bart, and Etnier, new species Gumbo Darter Figures E 2, and 3 Figure 1. Etheostoma thompsoni , Holotype. TU 200366, Adult male 53.7 mm SL, Neches River, along right (west) bank just below Town Bluff dam, at Town Bluff, Tyler County, Texas, 16 February 1979. Etheostoma asprigene : Moore, 1968 (portion of range in Sabine and Neches river systems); Starnes, 1980 (distribution in Sabine and Neches river systems); Page, 1983 (portion of range in Sabine and Neches river systems); Cummings et al. 1984 (portion of range in Sabine and Neches river systems); Conner and Suttkus, 1986, (portion of range in Sabine Lake and Calcasieu drainage); Page and Burr, 1991 (portion of range in Sabine-Neches river drainage); Thomas et al. 1998 (portion of range in Sabine and Neches river systems). 9 New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas Etheostoma collettei : Birdsong and Knapp, 1969 (portion of range in Sabine River system) Platania and Robison, 1980 (portion of range in Sabine River system); Douglas, 1974 (distribution in Sabine River system); Page, 1983 (portion of range in Sabine River system); Page and Burr, 1991 (portion of range in Sabine River system); HOLOTYPE: Adult male, TU 200366, 53.7 mm SL, Neches River, along right (west) bank just below Town Bluff dam, at Town Bluff, Tyler County, Texas, 16 Feb¬ ruary 1979, R. D. Suttkus and Carolyn Miller (Fig. 1). PARATOPOTYPES: TU 111804 (15, 38-50), collected with holotype, 16 Feb¬ ruary 1979, (10 specimens removed and distributed as follows: CUVM 9511 (2), UAIC 15593.01 (2), UMMZ 248782 (2), USNM 396516 (2), UT 91.7977 (1)); TU 111873 (2, 41-45), 17 February 1979; TU 111951 (6, 40-51), 9 March 1979 (two specimens re¬ moved and cataloged as UF 174326); TU 112130(2, 45-46), 23 March 1979; TU 112163 (11, 36-51), 24 March 1979; TU 116112(5, 37-38), 25 January 1980; TU 116149 (19, 34-43), 25 January 1980; TU 120675(2, 38-42), 1 March 1981; TU 200398 (2, 45), 1 March 2008. OTHER PARATYPES: TU 120711(1, 35), Neches River, along right (west) bank, 1.0 mi below Town Bluff dam, Tyler County, Texas, 2 March 1981; TU 120762 (2, 33-42), Neches River, along left (east) bank, 1.0 mi below Town Bluff dam, Jasper County, Texas, 2 March 1981. TU 111222 (1), Neches R. along right (west) bank, 7.5 mi below Cowart Bend; TU 66915 (1), Neches R. 4.9 mi W Mt. Union, 5.0 airmi E Spurger, FM 1013, TU 103202 (3), TU 103935 (5), TU 104484 (3), TU 105178 (1), TU 106025 (5, four specimens removed and distributed as follows: ANSP 189360 (2), TNHC 43091 (2)). ADDITIONAF MATERIAF EXAMINED: Neches River system, Texas, Ty¬ ler Co.: TU 111222 (1), Neches R. along right (west) bank, 7.5 mi below Cowart Bend; TU 66915 (1), Neches R. 4.9 mi W Mt. Union, 5.0 airmi E Spurger, FM 1013, TU 103202 (3), TU 103935 (5), TU 104484 (3), TU 105178 (1), TU 106025 (5). Jas¬ per Co.: TU 123850 (1), Neches R.1.5 mi below Old Stone Bend. Hardin Co.: TU 67564 (11), Neches R. at US Hwy 96, 6.0 mi ENE Silsbee, TU 69331 (2). Jasper Co.: TU 103169 (1), Neches R. 1.0 mi w Evadale, US Hwy 96 bridge, TU 103964 (2), TU 104537 (6), TU 105208 (1), TU 105976 (1). Hardin Co.: TU 111322 (2), Neches R. opposite Wiess Bluff. Jasper Co.: TU 114803 (5), Neches R. opposite mouth of Vil¬ lage Cr. Hardin Co.: TU 113782 (1), Village Cr. 1.0 mi above US Hwy 96 bridge; TU 138875 (1), Village Cr. at US Hwy 96 bridge. Orange Co.: TU 138893 (2), Neches R.at Lakeview; TU 114593 (2), Neches R.1.0 mi below Lakeview; TUI 14613 (1), Neches R.1.2 mi below Lakeview; TU 114676 (1), Neches R.0.7 mi below Four Oaks Ranch. Jefferson Co.: TU 127025 (1), Pine Island Bayou, trib. to Neches R. 1.0 mi above Horseshoe Bend. Sabine River system, Texas, Gregg Co.: TU 127936 (1), Sabine R., 1.0 mi SW Longview at US Hwy 259; TU 141641 (17), Sabine R., 2.5 mi SE Longview at Texas Hwy 149. Panola Co.: TU 42816 (1), Sabine R. 4.0 mi NW Logansport, Loui¬ siana. Shelby Co.: TU 50338 (1), Flat fork Cr., trib. to Tenaha Bayou, 2.2 mi NE James, Texas Hwy 7; TU 33424 (17), Tenaha Bayou, trib. to Sabine R. 13.3 mi S Lo¬ gansport, Louisiana (preimpoundment collection, Toledo Bend Reservoir), Texas Hwy 139. 10 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] Sabine River system, Louisiana, Sabine Parish: TU 50044 (2), Sabine R. at temporary bridge, 0.6 mi below precompleted Toledo Bend dam, TU 50317 (2). Vernon Parish: TU 50306 (1), Sabine R. at lower end of Toledo Bend, 13.2 mi SW Anacoco; TU 61442 (1), Sabine R. 2.5 mi above mouth of Anacoco Bayou, TU 67755 (1). Beauregard Parish: TU 183227 (1), Bayou Anacoco 2.5 mi N jet. US Hwy 190 and Louisiana Hwy 111 at Louisiana Hwy 111. Texas, Newton Co.: TU 115032 (5), Sabine R. along right (west bank), 1.0 mi below Armstrong Lake; TU 67881 (4), Sab¬ ine R. along right (west) bank, opposite Moon Lake; TU 104627 (2), Sabine R. 1.9 mi E Bon Wier, US Hwy 190. Louisiana, Beauregard Parish: TU 67477 (1), Sabine R. 0.7 mi below US Hwy 190 bridge. Texas, Newton Co.: TU 63409 (1), Sabine R. at upper end of Middle R.; TU 86889 (1), Big Cow Cr., 0.2 mi NE jet. FM 1416 and TX Hwy 87, at FM 1416, TU 86951 (1), TU 183790 (1); TU 63477 (3), Sabine R. at mouth Big Cow Cr. Louisiana, Beaure¬ gard Parish: TU 63503 (4), Sabine R. at River Mile 74, opposite Skinner Lake. Calcasieu River drainage, Louisiana, Rapides Parish: TU 120457 (6), Cal¬ casieu R. 1.2 mi SSW Hineston, LA Hwys 121 and 112; TU 120437 (2), Calcasieu R. 1.0 mi SSW Calcasieu. Allen Parish: TU 14051 (5), Calcasieu R. 2.5 mi W Oakdale, LA Hwy 10, TU 41475 (1), TU 41509 (1), TU 43300 (33), TU 44613 (6), TU 50222 (6), TU 120480 (5), TU 120855 (1); TU 120499 (6), Calcasieu R. 1.9 mi W Reeds; TU 120452 (3), Mill Cr., trib. to Calcasieu R. 4.0 airmi NW Oberlin; TU 120520 (8), Cal¬ casieu R. 3.7 mi NW Oberlin, LA Hwy 26, TU 120890 (10); TU 120378 (6), Calcasieu R. above dam, upstream of LA Hwy 141 (1147), 3.0 mi NW Kinder, TU 120390 (4); TU 120413 (52), Calcasieu R. just below dam, downriver of LA Hwy 141 (Hwy 1147), 3.0 mi NW Kinder; TU 64296 (18), Calcasieu R. 4.0 mi W Kinder, US Hwy 190 brid¬ ge, TU 79861 (4). Diagnosis: Etheostoma thompsoni is a member of the subgenus Oligocephalus as diagnosed by Page (1981) and Bailey and Etnier (1988). It is most like E. asprigene of other members of the subgenus Oligocephalus, especially in its physiognomy. The spinous dorsal fin base is longer in E. thompsoni than in E. asprigene , E. collettei and E. swaini, averaging >30% of standard length in males and females (<30% in in E. asprigene and other Oligocephalus compared) and the transpelvic width is distinctly narrower than in in E. asprigene , E. collettei and E. swaini. Nuptial males of E. thomp¬ soni have significantly shorter snouts and caudal peduncles, and narrower bodies than nuptial males of E. asprigene and other Oligocephalus compared. Nuptial males of E. thompsoni also differ from those of E. asprigene in fin and body coloration. Nuptial males of E. thompsoni have numerous small red blotches or flecks on the sides of body anterior to the dark blue bars that alternate with bright red bars on posterior part of body and caudal peduncle. The central blue-gray band of the spinous dorsal fin is nearly uniform in width in E. thompsoni , whereas it is narrow an- teriad and progressively widens posteriad in E. asprigene. Color on lateral areas of the belly and between blue bars on the caudal peduncle is a more intense red-orange in E. thompsoni than in E. asprigene. Lastly, E. thompsoni typically has a naked nape, whereas, the nape is fully scaled in E. asprigene. Description: Our description is based on 371 specimens: 126 from Neches River system; 68 from Sabine River system; and 177 from Calcasieu River drainage. New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas 11 Figure 2. Recently collected (March 2008) paratypes of E. thompsoni showing nuptial coloration of male (top) and female (bottom). Etheostoma thompsoni reaches a maximum size of 61 mm SL (a female). This single female specimen greatly exceeds the largest male (holotype, 53.7 mm SL). Frequency distributions of scale and fin ray counts are presented in Tables 1-6. Lateral line usual¬ ly incomplete: total lateral-line scales range from 44-52 (42-54); pored lateral-line scales 34-45 (31-48); unpored lateral-line scales (0, 1 specimen), 4-13 (1-18). Caudal peduncle scale rows 20-22 (18-24). Transverse sale rows 14-17 (-18). Dorsal fin with 10-11 (9-12) spines and 12-14 (11-15) soft rays. Anal fin with 2 spines and 7-8 (6-9), modally 7 soft rays. Pectoral-fin rays 14-15 (12-16), modally 14 rays. Branchiostegal rays (all from Neches River system) number 6-6 (30), 6-7 (1), or 7-7 (1). Cephalic sen¬ sory canals (left side only, all from Neches River system) complete with 9(1), 10 (77), or 11 (1) preoperculomandibular canal pores; 7 (1), 8 (65), 9 (12), or 10 (1) infraorbital canal pores; and 4 (46) or 5 (1) supraorbital canal pores. Gill rakers (Neches River sys¬ tem) 10(3), 11(11), 12(11), or 13(7). Branched caudal rays, scalation of cheek, oper- cle, nape, and prepectoral area, proportional measurements, and morphometries dis¬ cussed under "Comparisons". The color description below is based primarily on a freshly preserved nuptial male, the holotype,(Fig. 1), collected 16 February 1979; air temperature 6°C, water temperature 11°C. The description is supplemented by information from two smaller males collected with the holotype and a recently collected spawning pair (Fig. 2) which did not appear to be at the peak of nuptial development. The most striking body pattern is the five bright red bars that alternate with dark blue bars on posterior body and caudal peduncle. There are numerous small, red 12 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] blotches or flecks on side of body, above anal fin base. Anterior to the red flecks the body is pale olive-yellow. Lateral areas of the belly are bright red-orange. Between the prominent posterior dark blue bar and a smaller dark blue bar, centrally located at base of caudal fin, there are two vertically elongate, small, reddish spots. The remain¬ der of the caudal fin is a mixture of blue-gray and brown, with more brownish basally and more blue-gray distally. The dorsum is brown between the dark saddles; the breast, cheeks, opercles, and gill membranes are dark gray. Two smaller males (51 and 43 mm SL) have less dark pigment; the breast, cheeks, opercles, and gill membranes are whitish cream to olive, not dusky gray. These same two males have five red bars on body and caudal peduncle, with the most posterior bar widest, just like the barred pattern described above for the larger male. The two smaller males also have similar bright red-orange sides of belly. The anal fin of the large nuptial male is dark blue-gray, with two small red spots at mid-base of fin and a small brown spot near anterior end; pelvic fins are dark blue-gray, with a milky white anterior edge; pectoral fin bases are bright golden with some red, and the rest of the fin is essentially clear. The spinous dorsal fin has a narrow blue-gray margin, followed proximally by a narrow clear band, a narrow red band, and a broad blue-gray band (anteriad) that shades to blue-black posteriad. There are dark red to chocolate brown spots along the very base of the spinous dorsal fin. The soft dorsal fin also has a blue-gray marginal band, then a broad dark red band, a broad blue- gray band, and a narrow brown and russet basal band. Distribution: Etheostoma thompsoni is rather widely distributed in the lower middle sections of the Neches, Sabine, and Calcasieu rivers in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana (Figure 3). Five of the Sabine River records are preimpound¬ ment collections from a section of the Sabine River now flooded by Toledo Bend Res¬ ervoir (Figure 3). Bruce Thompson, just before his untimely death, was studying specimens from the Mermentau River drainage, tributary to the Grand-White lakes complex just east of the Calcasieu, that may ultimately prove to be Etheostoma thompsoni. However, the specimens have not, as yet, been located and studied by the authors. Habitat and Biology: We have designated the Neches River just below Town Bluff dam at Town Bluff as the type locality (Fig. 3). The right (west) bank, where we collected our samples, is in Tyler County, Texas. The bank is very steep and covered with grasses, weeds, and low brush. The banks drop steeply just off the river's edge, with many exposed stems and roots revealed during low water. During January, Febru¬ ary, and March the Gumbo Darter congregates and apparently spawns in vegetation along the drop-off area close to shore. The near (west) bank in the drop-off area, dur¬ ing moderately high water, was an excellent collecting place. Usually we could cast the seine out and pull it in toward the vertical drop-off bank. We did not discover any spawning areas in the Sabine River system; in fact nearly all specimens from that sys¬ tem were either small subadults or juveniles. Unlike the habitat described in the literature for E. asprigene , E. thompsoni invariably was taken along the bank, sometimes under cuts, where there were exposed roots with accumulated vegetational debris, and sand to mixed sand and gravel substrate with very little silt. We had a total of 40 sampling sites in the three river New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas 13 Figure 3. Map of southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas showing the distribution of E. thomp- soni in the Calcasieu, Sabine and Neches rivers. 14 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] systems. There were only eight sites in tributaries and these sites were only a short dis¬ tance from the confluence with the main river. There were 32 collecting sites along the main channels (11 in Neches River, 13 in Sabine River, and 8 in Calcasieu River). Two samples from spawning aggregations were taken from Calcasieu River, Allen Par¬ ish, Touisiana. One sample was taken from below a dam, 3.0 mi W Kinder; the other sample was taken from Calcasieu River, 2.0 mi W Oakdale. Males outnumbered females in the two samples from spawning aggregations in the Calcasieu River drainage. One sample of 33 specimens, collected on 15-16 Febru¬ ary 1967 from Calcasieu River 2.0 mi W Oakdale, and the other sample for 52 speci¬ mens, collected on 18 February 1981 from Calcasieu River, 3.0 mi NW Kinder, TA. The two samples resulted in 85 specimens, 50 males and 35 females. Males ranged from 26.3-47.1 mm ST and females ranged from 27.5-47.1 mm ST; males averaged 33.4 mm ST and females averaged 34.3 mm ST. The fish species associates of E. thompsoni at the type locality, based on eight collections taken between 16 February 1979 and 1 March 1981 are as follows: Ichthy- omyzon castaneus, Atractosteus spatula, Lepisosteus oculatus, L. osseus, Amia calva, Anguilla rostrata, Dorosoma cepedianum, D. petenense, Cyprinella lutrensis, C. venusta, Hybognathus nuchalis, Hybopsis amnis, Lythrurus fumeus, Macrhybopsis hy- ostoma, Notemigonus crysoleucas, Notropis atherinoides, N. atrocaudalis, N. sabinae, N. texanus, N. volucellus, Phenacobius mirabilis, Pimephales vigilax, Erimyzon sucet- ta, Moxostoma poecilurum, Ameiurus melas, Ictalurus furcatus, I. punctatus, Esox americanus, Labidesthes sicculus, Fundulus notatus, F. olivaceus, Morone chrysops, Centrarchus macropterus, Lepomis macrochirus, L. megalotis, L. microlophus, L. min- iatus, Micropterus punctulatus, M. salmoides, Pomoxis annularis, P. nigromaculatus, Ammocrypta vivax, Etheostoma chlorosoma , E. histrio, Percina macrolepida, P. sci- era, P. shumardi, and Aplodinotus grunniens. One mile below the type locality, on 2 March 1981, three specimens of E. thompsoni plus two additional species, Notropis buchanani and Opsopoeodus emiliae, were obtained. Etymology: We take pleasure in naming this darter, Etheostoma thompsoni , in honor of our good friend and colleague, the late Bruce Allen Thompson, in recognition of his intense interest in the systematics and biology of darters. His detailed studies of the log perches, wherein he described four new species, were exemplary. His leader¬ ship in two extensive papers on Percophidae, A review of Western North Atlantic spe¬ cies o/Bembrops, and A revision of Indo-Pacific Bembrops, was commendable. Comparisons: There is considerable overlap in meristic characters among E. thompsoni, E. collettei, E. asprigene, and E. swaini. Etheostoma swaini has the lowest number of lateral-line scales (Table 1); E. thompsoni and E. collettei have a slightly higher number, and E. asprigene has the highest number for the four species. Ethe¬ ostoma swaini from the type locality area (Pearl River drainage) have strikingly lower counts than those from eastern tributaries to the Mississippi River. The four species are slightly more distinct in numbers of unpored lateral-line scales than in pored and total number of lateral-line scales (Table 2). Etheostoma swaini has the lowest number of unpored scales, with E. thompsoni, E. asprigene, and E. collettei , respectively, each having successively higher counts. 15 New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas Etheostoma collettei has the lowest number of pored lateral-line scales (Table 3) , with E. thompsoni, E. asprigene, and E. swaini averaging about the same number of pored lateral-line scales, but a somewhat higher number than in E. collettei. Again, E. swaini from the Pearl River drainage have much lower counts than E. swaini from east¬ ern Mississippi River tributaries, and a mean count slightly lower than that of E. col¬ lettei. There is little difference in vertical scale counts between the four species (Table 4) . In number of scale rows around caudal peduncle, E. collettei and E. swaini have the lowest counts, E. thompsoni is intermediate in number, and E. asprigene has the highest number. The three species are essentially the same in number of transverse scale rows. In both of these counts, E. swaini from the Pearl River drainage have strik¬ ingly lower counts than populations of E. swaini from eastern tributaries to the lower Mississippi River and those of the other three species. Etheostoma thompsoni and E. swaini (except in the Pearl River drainage) have a mode of 11 dorsal spines (Table 5), whereas E. collettei , E. asprigene, and Pearl Riv¬ er E. swaini have a mode of 10 dorsal spines. The number of dorsal soft rays is essen¬ tially the same in E. thompsoni and E. collettei (12 or 13 rays). Etheostoma swaini populations counted all have a strong mode of 12 rays. Variation in dorsal soft rays is considerable in E. asprigene , with a mode of 11 in the Mississippi River basin above the mouth of the Ohio River (mostly from Kaskaskia River, IL); bimodal at 11 or 12 in the Green River system of the Ohio River basin, and with modes of 13 or even 14 in the remainder of the Ohio basin and in the lower Mississippi River basin (Table 5). Anal soft rays are higher (modally 7 or 8) in E. thompsoni and E. asprigene , but tend to be lower (modally 6 or7) in E. collettei and E. swaini (Table 6). Pectoral-fin rays (Table 6) also tend to be higher (modally 14) in E. thompsoni and E. asprigene than in E. collettei and E. swaini (modally 13). Our pectoral ray counts for E. collettei and E. asprigene agree with those reported by Birdsong and Knapp (1969). Branched caudal fin rays have a strong modal number of 15 for E. asprigene (except for Mississippi River tributaries above the Ohio River), E. swaini (except for the Pearl River drainage), and E. thompsoni (all populations examined), with over 90% of counts in the range 14-16, and means of 14.5-15.3. Counts are slightly lower in the upper Mississippi (mostly from Kaskaskia River, IL) varying from 13(2), 14(10), and 15(8) with mean = 14.3. In the Pearl River E. swaini has modally 13 branched caudal rays with counts of 11(1), 12(3), 13(26), and 14(7), mean = 13.1. In 20 specimens of E. collettei examined (10 from Red River system, 10 from Ouachita River system) counts were 13(3), 14(9), and 15(8), mean = 14.3. Branchiostegal ray counts were 6-6 in all populations of all four species, with deviations of 5 or 7 rays representing about 10% of the counts. Gill rakers counts were very similar for the four species, with modal values of 11 or 12, means of 10.8 (Pearl River drainage E. swaini ) to 12.2 (Ohio River basin E. asprigene ); well over 90% of counts were between 10 and 13 except for Pearl River E. swaini , where 5 of 33 speci¬ mens had only 9 gill rakers. Variation in the cephalic lateralis system is conservative in the four species, with preoperculomandibular canal complete with modally 10 pores; deviants of 9 or 11 pores typically occurred in 10% or fewer specimens. Counts were 9(1), 10(77), 11(1) in E. thompsoni, all from the Neches River system; 10(18), 11(2) in E. collettei ; 9(9), 16 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] 10(152), 11(17) in E. asprigene ; and 9(2), 10(101), 11(2) in E. swaini from eastern tributaries to the lower Mississippi River. In Pearl River E. swaini counts were 8(3), 9 (6), 10(20), and 11(1) in 30 specimens. The infraorbital canal was complete with mo¬ dally 8 pores in all 4 species. Counts were 7(1), 8(65), 9(12), 10(1) in Neches River E. thompsoni; 7(4), 8(15), and 9(1) in E. collettei ; 7(6), 8(96), 9(13) in E. asprigene ; and 7 (3), 8(120); 9(10) in E. swaini. Supraoccipital canal complete with modally 4 pores. Counts were 4(46), 5(1) in E. thompsoni from Neches River; 3(1), 4(19) in E. collettei; 3(6), 4(86); 5(13) in E. asprigene; and 3(5), 4(99), 5(1) in E. swaini from eastern tribu¬ taries to the lower Mississippi River. In the Pearl River drainage 6 of 14 specimens had 3 pores. The supratemporal canal (pores not counted) of E. thompsoni is complete; authors discussing the cephalic lateralis system of the other three species consistently report a complete supratemporal canal. We find the supratemporal canal to be narrow¬ ly to widely interrupted in many specimens of E. asprigene (see "Discussion") from several populations within its range. Invariably, E. thompsoni , E. asprigene, and E. swaini have fully scaled cheeks and opercles, whereas only about 65% of E. collettei have these areas fully scaled. There is a striking difference in nape scalation: 74% of 280 E. thompsoni have a naked nape and only one specimen of the 280 has a fully scaled nape; 87% of 84 E. collettei have a fully scaled nape and none of the 84 has a naked nape; 98% of 109 E. asprigene have a fully scaled nape, and of the two specimens that do not have a fully scaled nape, one is 3/4 scaled and the other is 2/3 scaled. Nape scalation is variable in E. swaini, but it is rarely fully scaled in populations we examined. In eastern tributaries to the Mississippi river the nape was scored as completely scaled in only 13 of 123 speci¬ mens; 42 of these were scored as being 1/2 or 3/4 scaled, and 68 were scored as being naked to 1/4 scaled. In 34 Pearl River system E. swaini the nape was naked to 1/4 scaled in 18, 1/2 to 3/4 scaled in 12, and fully scaled in 4. All four species have the breast naked. The prepectoral area is variably scaled in E. thompsoni , with 13 scored as naked and 16 with 1 or more (up to about 7) scales. In E. collettei 18 of 18 speci¬ mens were scored as naked. In E. swaini from eastern tributaries to the lower Missis¬ sippi River and in E. asprigene the prepectoral area was variably scaled, with the for¬ mer having 22 of 110 scored as naked, and the latter with 48 of 172 scored as naked; all 33 specimens of E. swaini from the Pearl River drainage were scored as naked. Body Proportions and Morphometries : Means and standard deviations of 19 body measurements for samples of females and males of E. thompsoni , E. asprigene , E. collettei, and E. swaini are reported as proportions (thousandths) of standard length in Table 7. However, univariate and multivariate statistical comparisons are based on residuals from regressions of data for each of the measurements on standard length. Etheostoma thompsoni differs significantly from E. asprigene , E. collettei and E. swaini in having a longer spinous dorsal fin base and narrower transpelvic width (males and females), a narrower body width, and a shorter snout and caudal peduncle (especially in males, Table 7). Males and females of E. asprigene have significantly taller spinous dorsal fins and longer anal and pelvic fins than E. thompsoni , E. collettei and E. swaini. Males and females of E. collettei have significantly narrower caudal peduncles and shorter caudal fins than E. thompsoni , E. asprigene, and E. swaini. New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas 17 Males Females ♦ E. thornpsoni ■ E. asprigene A E. swaini • E. collettei Figure 4. Results of Canonical Discriminant Analysis showing variation in body proportions of males (A) and females (B) of E. thompsoni and three species of Oligocephalus. 18 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] Males and females of E. swaini have significantly shorter heads and pelvic fins, smaller orbits and deeper caudal peduncles than E. thompsoni, E. asprigene and E. collettei. Results of multivariate canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) show reasona¬ bly good separation among species clusters and generally confirm body proportion dif¬ ferences described above based on univariate comparisons (Figs. 4). Etheostoma thompsoni males separate mainly along CAN 1 and cluster in the region of the plot cor¬ responding to long spinous dorsal fin base, narrow body, and short caudal peduncle (Fig. 4). Females of E. thompsoni separate mainly along CAN 1, clustering in the region corresponding to a narrow caudal peduncle and wide body (the latter probably reflecting the gravid condition of specimens). Etheostoma collettei males separate mainly along CAN 2 and cluster in the region of the plot corresponding to a narrow caudal peduncle and short caudal fin. Females of E. collettei separate mainly along CAN1, clustering in a region of the plot corresponding to a narrow caudal peduncle and relatively wide body. Etheostoma swaini males separate along CAN 1 and 2 and cluster in the region corresponding to long and deep caudal peduncle, relatively long caudal fin, and wide body. Females of E. swaini also separate along CAN 1 and 2, clustering in a region of the plot corresponding to a short head, small orbit, and short pelvic fins. Etheostoma asprigene males cluster in the center of the CDA plot, corre¬ sponding to intermediate states of the above body proportion characters. Females clus¬ ter in the region of the plot corresponding to high dorsal fin, long anal and pelvic fins, and deep caudal peduncle. Discussion Of the species of Oligocephalus compared in this study, E. thompsoni is most similar to E. asprigene , and may be a recent Western Gulf Slope derivative of that spe¬ cies based on shared similarities in general body pigmentation, nuptial male coloration, and body morphometries. Etheostoma asprigene occurs throughout the Mississippi River Valley, from Minnesota/Wisconsin southward to Louisiana, including the lower Ouachita and Red rivers of Louisiana. Etheostoma thompsoni occurs just to the west of the Mississippi River Basin in the Calcasieu, Sabine, Neches, and possibly the Mer- mentau river systems. Such a vicariant event is unusual among currently recognized darter species. Nevertheless, this appears to represent peripheral isolation west of the Mississippi River. A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis involving mitochondrial and nuclear gene regions consistently resolved Etheostoma asprigene , E. collettei and E. swaini as part of a monophyletic group of Oligocephalus darters - referred to as the E. asprigene group - that included E. nuchale , E. ditrema and E. caerulueum (Lang and Mayden 2007). Etheostoma collettei was always sister to E. swaini in nuclear (S7 intron) and mitochondrial (cytb) gene trees, and in a combined data analysis. Lhese species were sister either to E. nuchale and E. ditrema , or to E. asprigene. Lhe analysis did not in¬ clude E. thompsoni. From our results, it would appear that species-level recognition may be justified for populations currently identified as Etheostoma swaini from eastern tributaries to the Mississippi River. They differ markedly from specimens from the Pearl River drainage 19 New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas (type locality) in lateral-line scales, pored lateral-line scales, scales around caudal pe¬ duncle, pectoral fin rays, and branched caudal fin rays. The most southerly Mississippi River system tributary from which we examined specimens identified as E. swaini was the Homochitto River. In this system, counts of transverse scale rows, dorsal soft rays, and anal soft rays appear to be somewhat intermediate between counts for the Pearl River drainage and more northerly eastern tributaries to the Mississippi River. Speci¬ mens from Bayou Pierre, geographically intermediate between the Homochitto and Big Black rivers might provide additional insights into the status of populations of E. swaini from eastern Mississippi River tributaries. We also noted interesting variation in the cephalic lateralis system of E. aspri- gene. The supratemporal canal is interrupted on the mid-line in 29 of 31 specimens of Etheostoma asprigene from the Kaskaskia River, IL; whereas the canal is complete in both specimens from the upper Mississippi River. In the Ohio River basin, the canal was interrupted in only two of 15 specimens from Wabash River Mile 181 and 183.7 (Sullivan Co.) but interrupted in five of nine specimens from the lower Wabash (Knox and Posey counties); three of 10 from the Green River, 0 of 11 from the Cumberland River, and three of 16 from the Tennessee River had interrupted supratemporal canals. In the lower Mississippi River the canal was interrupted in five of 28 specimens, but four of the five with interrupted canals were from the extreme lower portion of the riv¬ er in Louisiana. In large western tributaries to the lower Mississippi river the canal was interrupted in two of 20 from the White River, one of 10 from the Arkansas, and three of four from the Red. While this may merely be the result of regional intraspecific variation, we won¬ der if this phenomenon is similar to that discussed by Bauer et al. (1995, p 11). They found that only five of 68 specimens of Etheostoma (Ulocentra ) scotti collected in 1990 from Butler Creek, tributary to Allatoona Creek, Cobb County, GA, north of At¬ lanta, had complete supratemporal canals. Specimens of E. scotti from this same creek had 13 of 29 canals complete in specimens collected from 1984-1987, and complete in 14 of 15 specimens collected in 1950. They attributed this rapid and drastic change in the canal to be "perhaps caused by chemical pollutants entering the system", and to possibly be "... an early warning of the imminent demise of that population." Acknowledgments Study material at TU of the four darters treated herein were accumulated over a number of years (1956-1985), due to the help of many TU students, fellow faculty, University of New Orleans students, students from Alabama, and friends. They are in alphabetical order: Gene Beckham, Anne Black, Joe Black, Meredith M. Blackwell, Margaret L. Brady, John H. Caruso, Robert C. Cashner, Glenn H. Clemmer, John V. Conner, John S. Faletto, the late Gerald E. Gunning, David C. Heins, Robert Martin, Carolyn Miller, Steve Osborn, the late George H. Penn, Robert Reynolds, Nelson Rios, Steve Rohmann, John Schleuss, Michael Sobczak, the late Bruce A. Thompson, Frank Truesdale, and Susan Utter. Many collections, that did not contain any E. thompsoni, were obtained from the three river systems by the following: Erin Burks, Elizabeth Christopher, Linda 20 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] Dunn, James Grady, Ralph Holzenthal, Veronica C. Trau, and numerous students in Biology of Fishes and Ichthyology classes at Tulane University. Dr. David Bechkler and his students (Pamela Burris, Joseph Rasnick, Lynn Sadler, and David Taylor) from Lamar-University in Beaumont, Texas, contributed many hours of collecting. We are appreciative of the loan of a fine series of E. asprigene by William T. Slack, MMNS; the loan of numerous lots of E. asprigene by Tom Buchanan, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith; and the loan of several lots of E. asprigene by Larry M. Page, formerly of Illinois Natural History Survey. We are grateful for the series of E. collettei that Frank and Deborah Thomas collected and donated to TU. The senior author would have been greatly handicapped in this project without the down-loaded, computerized data on the Neches, Sabine, and Calcasieu river collections housed at TU. We extend our sincere thanks to Nelson Rios for the numerous print-outs of data from the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection at TU. Also, we are grateful for the courtesy of Susan Jewett and the late Ernest A. Lachner for giving one of us (RDS) the opportunity to study some the earliest collected material of E. asprigene, E. collettei and the holotype of E. swaini , housed at the National Museum of Natural History. We are also grateful to the late George S. Myers for the opportunity to examine the two syntypes of E. asprigene at Stanford University. Bruce B. Collette of the National Museum provided one of us (RDS) additional details on characteristics of these specimens. Thanks to Jennifer Joice for making available the University of Tennessee's extensive holdings of E. asprigene and E. swaini , and for generating final versions of Tables 1-6. Bruce A. Bauer' edits and comments greatly improved an early version of the manuscript. Last¬ ly, we thank Mark Sabaj and John Lundberg of ASNP, Amy McCune and John Friel of CUVM, Phil Harris and Bernie Kuhajda of UAIC, Larry Page and Rob Robbins of UP, Bill Pink and Doug Nelson of UMMZ, Jeff Williams and Shirleen Smith of UNSM, Darren Hulsey and Jennifer Joice of UT and Dean Hendrickson and Jessica Rosales of TNHC for providing specimens for study. Literature Cited Bailey, R. M. and D. A. Etnier. 1988. Comments on the subgenera of darters (Percidae) with descriptions of two new species from southcentral United States. Misc. Pub. Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool. 175:1-48. Bauer, B. H., D. A. Etnier, and N. M. Burkhead. 1995. Etheostoma ( Ulocentra ) scotti (Osteichthyes: Percidae), a new darter from the Etowah River system in Georgia. Bull. Alabama Mus. Nat. Hist. 17:1-16. Birdsong, L. S. and L. W. Knapp. 1969. Etheostoma collettei , a new darter of the subgenus Oligocephalus from Louisiana and Arkansas. Tulane Studies Zool. Bot. 15:106-112. Conner, J.V. and R.D. Suttkus. 1986. Zoogeography of freshwater fishes of the western Gulf Slope pp. 413-456 In C.H. Hocutt and E.O.Wiley (Eds.). The zoo¬ geography of North American freshwater fishes. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. 21 New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas Cummings, K. S., J. M.Grady, and B. M. Burr. 1984. The life history of the mud darter, Etheostoma asprigene , in Lake Creek, Illinois. Ill. Nat. Hist. Surv. Biol. Notes 122:1-16. Douglas, N.H. 1974. Freshwater Fishes of Louisiana. Claitor’s College Publishers. Baton Rouge, 443pp. Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 681 p. Hubbs, C. L. and K. F. Lagler. 1958. Fishes of the Great Lakes region. Univ. Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 213 p. Lang, N. J. AND R. L. Mayden. 2007. Systematics of the subgenus Oligocephalus (Teleostei: Percidae: Etheostoma ) with complete subgeneric sampling of the genus Etheostoma. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 43:605-615. MOORE, G. A. 1968. Fishes, p 21-165, In: W. F. Blair, A. P. Blair, F. Brodkorb, F. R. Cagle, and G. A. Moore, eds. Vertebrates of the United States. MCGraw-Hill Co., New York. Nelson J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, F. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Fea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Am. Fish, Soc. Spec. Publ. 29:1- 386. Page, F. M. 1981. The genera and subgenera of darters (Percidae, Etheostomatini). Occ. Pap. Mus. Nat. Hist. Univ. Kans. 90:1-69. Page, F. M. 1983. Handbook of darters. T. F. H. Pub., Inc., Neptune city, New Jer¬ sey, 271 p. Page, F. M. and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to the freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, Massachusetts, 432 p. PLATANIA, S. P. AND H. W. Robison. 1980. Etheostoma collettei Birdsong and Knapp, Creole darter, p 636 In: Fee et al., Atlas of North American freshwater fish¬ es. N. C. State Mus. Nat. Hist., Raleigh, 854 p. Robison, H. W., and T. M. Buchanan. 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. Univ. Ark. Press, Fayetteville, 536 p. Starnes, W. C. 1980. Etheostoma asprigene (Forbes), mud darter, p 624 In: Fee et al., Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. N.C.. State Mus. Nat. Hist., Raleigh, 854 p. Thomas, C., T., H. Bonner, and B. G. Whiteside. 1998. Freshwater fishes of Tex¬ as. Texas A & M University Press, College Station, 220p. 22 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No. 1 2012] Additional Material Examined For systems that are consolidated into a single row in Tables 1-6, we provide below, means, number of specimens, and range of values for the following characters: total lateral-line scales (LLS), unpored LLS (LLU), pored LLS (LLP), scales around caudal peduncle (SACP), transverse scale rows (TR), dorsal fin spines (Dl), dorsal fin soft rays (D2), anal fin soft rays (A), and left pectoral fin rays (P). Etheostoma asprigene. Mississippi River and tributaries above mouth of Ohio River: SU 2201, USNM 34415, UT 91.134, UT 91.6545, INHS 12594, INHS 87621, INHS 25597, INHS 87622; LLS, 49.5, 54, 46-55; LLU, 10.1, 57, 6-13; LLP, 39.2, 55, 34-45; SACP, 19.8, 42, 18-22, TR, 13.8, 43, 13-16; Dl, 10.3, 51, 9-11; D2, 11.5, 51, 10-14; A, 7.3, 52, 6-9; P, 13.7, 36, 12-15. Ohio River Basin, Green River system: UT 91.5437, UT 91.6100; LLS, 45.4, 22, 42-49; LLU, 9.6, 20, 7-15; LLP, 35*9, 21, 33- 40; SACP, 21.2, 11, 20-22; TR, 14.5, 13, 13-16; Dl, 10.2, 23, 9-11; D2, 11.4, 23, 10- 12; A, 7.8, 23, 7-9; P, 13.4, 23, 12-15. Wabash River system: USNM66960, US 91.1711, UT 91.1714, UT 91.3142, UT 91.3183, TU 19290, TU 19329, TU 101164; LLS, 49.1, 56, 43-55; LLU, 11.7, 37, 7-16; LLP, 36.8, 40, 29-43; SACP, 21.1, 33, 19.24; TR, 14.9, 30, 13-17; Dl, 10.3, 41, 9-11; D2, 12.9, 41, 11-15; A, 7.8, 41, 6-9; P, X 13.8, 41, 13-16. Cumberland River drainage : UT 91.1107, UT 91.3722, UT 91.5234; LLS, 47.8, 11, 44-52; LLU, 8.6, 11, 4-12; LLP, 39.6, 12, 32-46; SACP, 21.7, 8, 21-23; TR, 16.0, 9, 15-17; Dl, 9.4, 10, 9-10; D2, 12.9, 10, 12-14; A, 7.8, 10, 7.9; P, 13.8, 10, 13-15. Tennessee River drainage: UT 91.2842, UT 91.2843, UT 91.4643, UT 91.5234, TU 89447; LLS, 47.4, 31, 42-52; LLU, 9.9, 26, 5-13; LLP, 37.6, 30, 32-42; SACP, 21.7, 33, 19-24; TR, 14.6, 31, 13-16; Dl, 10.3, 32, 9-11; D2, 13.2, 43, 12-14; A, 8.0, 32, 7-9; P, 13.9, 32, 13-15. Mississippi River and smaller tributaries below mouth of Ohio River: MMNS 30684, UAFS 1400 UAFS 1696, UAFS 1848, UAFS 1894, UAFS 1898, UT 91.138, UT 91.553, UT 91.564, UT 91.599, UT 91.1286, UT 91.2632, UT 91.3040, UT 91.3410, UT 91.4079, UT 91.5424, TU 99565, TU 108113; LLS, 50.0, 143, 40-57; LLU, 9.6, 118, 5-17; LLP, 39.9, 135, 30- 48; SACP, 21.5, 47, 20-24; TR, 15.3, 60, 13-19; Dl, 10.3, 93, 9-12; D2, 13.3, 91, 12- 15; A, 7.9, 89, 6-10; P, 14.0, 92, 13-15. White River system : UAFS0895, UAFS0892, UAFS 0898, UAFS 0899, UAFS 0902, UAFS 0903, UAFS 0904, UAFS 1593, UAFS 1667; LLS, 47.6, 33, 44-52; LLU, 8.5, 28, 3-13; LLP, 38.8, 28, 33-43; SACP, 20.9, 25, 19-23; TR, 15.7, 25, 14-17; Dl, 10.3, 43, 9-11; D2, 13.2, 43, 12-15; A, 7.6, 43, 7- 8; P, 13.9, 43, 13-15. Arkansas River system: UAFS 0894, UAFS 0900, UAFS 1847: LLS, 47.0, 34, 43-53; LLU, 8.5, 28, 4-13; LLP, 38.3, 32, 34-43, SACP, 24.4, 20, 20- 22; TR, 15.5, 25, 14-17; Dl, 10.4, 36, 10-12; D2, 12.4, N 36, 12-15; A, 7.8, 35, 6-9; P, 13.8, 35, 13-15. Red River system: AR: UAFS 1345, UAFS 1356, UAFS 1697, UAFS 1849; LLS, 48.7, 4, 46-51; LLU, 5.0, 2, 2-8; LLP, 43.5, 2, 43-44; SACP, 21.5, 4, 21- 22; TR, 16.5, 4, 16-17; Dl, 10.0, 4, 10; D2, 12.3, 4, 11-13; A, 7.8, 4, 7-8; P, 14.0, 3, 14. LA: USNM 173058: LLS, 50.1, 9, 48-53; LLU, 9.8, 9, 8-12; LLP, 37, 37-43. Etheostoma collettei Red River system, LA: TU 55133: LLS, 50.3, 28; 46-55; LLU, 11.6, 28, 8-16; LLP, 38.6, 28, 36-42; SACP, 21.7, 28, 20-24; TR, 16.1, 28, 14-18; Dl, 10.8, 28, 10-12; D2, 12.6, 28, 12-14; A, 7.1, 28, 6-8; P, 13.0, 28, 12-13. Ouachita River system, AR: USNM 165915, TU 100993: LLS, 49.7, 18, 46-54; LLU, 13.8, 18, New species of Etheostoma from Louisiana and Texas 23 7-25; LLP, 35.9, 18, 27-41; SACP, 20.6, 8, 17-23; TR, 15.7, 8, 15-17; Dl, 10.4, 8, 10- 11; D2, 12.2, 8, 15-17; A, 6.9, 8, 6-7 P, 13.0, 8, 13, LA: TU 76092: LLS, 49.5, 48; 44 -56; LLU, 15.0, 48, 10-26; LLP, 34.5, 48, 24-40; SACP, 20.2, 48, 18-23; TR, 15.1, 48, 13-17; Dl, 10.2, 48, 9-12; D2, 12.6, 48, 11-14; A, 7.0, 48, 6-8; P, 13.0, 48, 12-14. Etheostoma swaini. Obion River system: UT 91.306, UT 91.963, UT 91.1608, UT 91.2292, UT 91.2756; LLS, 46.8, 35, 43-51; LLU, 6.2, 38, 1-10; LLP, 40.3, 38, 35-46; SACP, 20.1, 23, 19-22; TR, 14.9, 23, 13=17; Dl, 10.7, 42, 9-12; D2, 11.7, 42, 10-13; A, 7.3, 42, 7-8; P, 12.9, 42, 12=14. Forked Deer River system: UT 91.84, UT 91.1268, UT 91.1276, UT 91.1279, UT 91.1350, UT 91.1355; LLS, 46.8, 50, 41-54; LLU, 7.2, 49, 1-12; LLP, 39.7, 48, 32-48; SACP, 20.6, 25, 19-22; TR, 14.8, 24, 13- 16; Dl, 10.3, 50, 10-12; D2, 11.7, 50, 11-13; A, 7.4, 50, 6-8; P, 12.9, 49, 12-14; Hatchie River system: UT 91.275, UT 91.533, UT 91.534, UT 91.915, UT 91.918, UT 91.928, UT 91.6061, UT 91.6088, UT 91.6668; LLS, 47.1, 45, 43-52; LLU, 7.9, 44, 3-16; LLP, 39.1, 44, 31-47; SACP, 20.5, 17, 19-22; TR, 15.0, 17, 13-16; Dl, 10.6, 48, 10-11; D2, 11.6, 48, 9-13; A, 7.2, 40, 6-8; P, 12.8, 45, 12-14; Wolf River system: UT 91.2934, UT 91.5907; LLS, 47.6, 29, 44-52; LLU, 5.1, 29, 1-11; LLP, 42.5, 29, 35 -49; SACP, 20.2, 26, 19-22; TR, 15.2, 27, 14-17; Dl, 10.8, 35, 10-12; D2, 11.7, 35, 11 -13; A, 7.2, 35, 6-8; P, 13.2, 35, 11-15; Yazoo River system: TU 158073, TU 162800, TU 163328, UT 91.2171 UT 91.3541; LLS, 46.0, 1, 41-50; LLU, 4.4, 17, 0-7; LLP, 41.5, 17, 35-48; SACP, 19.9, 17, 18-21; TR, 15.2, 17, 14-17; Dl, 10.6, 16, 8-12; D2, 12.5, 17, 11-13; A, 7.2, 17, 6-8; P, 13.2, 17, 12-14; Big Black River system: TU 79980, TU 133582, UT 91.2476, UT 91.3401; LLS, 46.7, 51, 38-52; LLU, 6.3, 51, 1- 13; LLP, 40.4, 51, 32-46; SACP, 19.5, 41, 18-21; TR, 15.4, 42, 13-18; Dl, 11.0, 43, 10-12; D2, 12.2, 43, 11-14; A, 7.3, 34, 7-8; P, 13.3, 34, 12-14; Homochitto River sys¬ tem: TU 55431, TU 66983, UT 91.3406; LLS, 46.3, 68, 40-52; LLU, 3.3, 68, 0-9; LLP, 43.0, 68, 37-52; SACP, 19.2, 33, 18-21; TR, 14.3, 33, 12-16; Dl, 10.9, 33, 10- 12; D2, 11.6, 33, 11-13; A, 6.8, 33, 6-8; P, 13.3, 33, 12-14. Mississippi River: TU 55398, 66841, TU 99565, TU 108113, Pearl River system: USNM 35308, TU 43119, UT 91.3424, UT 91.306, UT 91.1922; LLS, 39.9, 62, 36-44; LLU, 5.0, 6.2, 0.9; LLP, 35.0, 62, 30-43; SACP, 16.7, 40, 14-19; TR, 12.2, 40, 10-14; Dl, 10.4, 45, 9-11; D2, 11.6, 44, 10-13; A, 6.5, 48, 5.8; P, 12.5, 46, 12-14. Table 1. Frequency distributions of total lateral-line scales in Etheostoma thompsoni, E. collettei, E. asprigene, and E. swaini 24 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No.l 2012] Q in vo *n *n OO Os Ov l> o Os oo vd Os nl- nl- in cn iz 111 39 129 279 94 54 120 143 80 34 397 295 62 Os 'O oo in in vo •n in in in cn in (N in *n o jg 10 13 os O GO I oo i> cn VO cn (N si o o •S (N m »n i> l> oo so X r- cn X cn OS OS o O oo cn ,—l n\ 1 (N -n- in so so cn *n oo cn l> OO -n- , n- X cn so O i> Os *n i> (N cn oo (N in -n- cn (N o -n- o (N (N so in ,—l cn ,—l ,—l cn -n- (N i> (N Os cn *n OS Os 1^ 1^ OS so cn - - oo o cn o3 w l-H n 5.0 Z 111 39 130 280 94 57 O 00 73 349 296 62 vo O) - in 04 - 'xl- 04 co 04 04 04 04 - o 04 - ov 00 - - r- - - 00 - - VO - - 00 - - - in - - I/O - I/O ^l" - , ^i- in CO O' CO o co 'n in O CO vo ov vo CO 04 04 04 - - 0 OV vo ov 04 z CO in CO O' in 04 «/o 04 CN O' o 04 in o in CO o 00 vo CO 04 IN- CO vo o 04 o 04 vo 00 >n o ov o 'n CO 00 04 - 00 «/o ov in O' >n 04 04 - 00 VO 04 ov CO VO VO 04 O' in 04 o- o vo 00 04 vo o 04 CO ov CO - CO in o 00 VO 04 O' vo vo 04 04 ov 04 CO CO CO - >n CO in CO CO vo - CO - I/O in CO - I/O - CO ol- CO 04 00 co - I/O - - 00 00 04 CO - ol- - - 00 04 - 04 04 00 04 o - - o 04 E. thompsoni Neches River Sabine River Calcasieu River Totals E. collettei E. asprigene Mississippi R. above Ohio R. Ohio River basin Mississippi R. & tribs. below Ohio R. Western tribs. lower Mississippi R. Totals E. swaini Eastern tribs. to lower Mississippi R. Pearl Table 3. Frequency distributions of pored lateral-line scales in Etheostoma thompsoni, E. collettei, E. asprigene, and E. swaini 26 Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany [Vol. 32, No. 1 2012] Q 00 CN 00 «/q ^q 00 ^q ^q i/q CO CN of CN CO CN of «/o CN of CN l> I/O o o o o\ 00 35 of 00 E> of of 00 o OT CO CO CO CO CO CO CO or £ CO CN 279 or crs 55 o »/o CO 371 uo CN 62 3 -H > g- <2 2 O 5-1 CO -S o CD £ g S-h -Sh ^ W 2 .8 O - . _ cd ys o co U H CO Q Ctf CO CO CO or - - or - i/o i/o CN i/o CN CN 00 CO >n CN CN CO CN CO uo CO CN CN - CO - uo 00 CN O CO or 00 CO CN CO CN i/o or CO 00 o uo «/o «/o CO o i/o 00 uo CO o CO CN o CO — — CN 1 1 1 1 or CN \T CO o — — o \T CO CN o 00 CN i/o «/o CO CN i/o - or «/o 00 CN - CO - CN i/o or CN - CTs - Os i/o CN - CO CN CN CN CN - CO or - - CN - 3d >«* o <3 •i-»T R o =o I o -R 3 O =o O 3d -R kq .3 C/3 o o -3 od o in O a o '3 rQ 43 .89 -o c 8 cr 3D Dh Ph d" -3 X> 03 H m O -3 od o on CD GO S-H > a a H q on o o t". CN o o o\ DO o — 1 — 1 o — 1 —i — 1 — 1 o 03 no c c | in oo OO co 'sq o CN ■O 'O CN o in (N o CN co 'xf o CO \I CN •n OO d" d" d" CN o CN o co CN oo CN O o o r- CN , d- CN co co CO co •n 'O CN co ^d- N- o , d- CN CO co o (N CD NO ~ ■ • ^ O 2 ■§ ■I « f o c/3 od -O S— CD GO w .89 O GO 3 -89 O S Ph a I CD -O C/5 rS 3 GO _Q CD H—* c/3 CD od CP .& GO .82 O C/2 pH • 29 Dh I O NO q O co o o 0 O'N 0 o ^ H ’ ^ H ’ 0 in ^q CO 'd- r- •n CN , d- CN o\ i—H .—' 1—' ,—’ o o\ i— .—H ,— ' a\ CN CN CN CN CN CN CN CN 3 111 32 130 273 84 42 85 47 49 223 182 40 ^d- CN co co CN co CO (N 'O •n CN co »n OO d- CO CN •n 00 d- 0 0 CN d- ON ON d- NO CN »n co CN co r-> 'O CN 00 r- OO •n NO ON 00 O (N CN ■d - 00 CN NO »n O CN 00 'O 00 d- co l\ OO CN d- CN CO CN l d- NO c^ co - 00 CN 3 •n co CN O CN in 00 CN co co co CN CN cn .§ 03 tq pd _ ’Sh 3 .& C/3 DO .CQ -Q C/3 '5 ■» cn CD C/3 od M i j CD *h > cd > £3 n Q .cq pi ^ •Ph O e- 2 o GO d X> S-H O •s •S ^ :§ „ & J • cd H CO <3 P4 •S c3 ^H a o dJ Ph dJ hP q >n uo n vo vq i r> >n OV vo in o © o o o o o o O o o o r- 00 o ov o l/o ,; p ,; dt- co CO CO CO CO n 23 - ov o r- vo CO o n Q vo uo vo I/O r- vo r- vo vq vo in o o o o o o o o o O 1 H CO r- CO ov ov r- cq I/O i ^ rZ vd 111 39 130 280 84 52 106 89 82 329 251 48 - - CO <3V CO CN CN r- ^t uo vo vo ttt O in 00 39 24 53 vo O -O c3 Oh Oh -»—! -PT 1 PP _co O to r „ 2-|| o S B Pi ■M o £ o oj -O co Oh Oh . •Sh h CO to -Q .£2 S t>o 'P .£2 I S -£2 5—i co (D dJ > P2 a £ •==“ . co £ -23 rQ co B -3 3 CO a PP ^H O c3 3 o' o' o' o' o' o’ o' o' o' o o' o' o’ o' o' o' o' o' o' p m o os m nr co 00 o co e^ cn c- Cl Cl CO ri in o m rg o y—i o o r—4 t-H t-H T— H t-H o t-H o t-H T— H T— H T—H o T—H o H o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 00 JU C/2 o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' o' x 03 X o X X X u X 03 X 03 X as 03 O 03 X X 1^ Cl so •n m in OS nT ^H so so Cl nr Os T—H Cl Os 00 «n oo o Ph C/3 CD 8P o -J t JL^