Description of Eggs and Larvae of Fantail (Etheostoma flabellare) and Rainbow (E. caeruleum) darters from Lake Erie Tributaries

Abstract

Abstract Fantail and rainbow darter eggs and larvae were reared through the juvenile phase. Fantail darter eggs ranged from 2.5 to 2.9 mm in diameter and were amber in color. Rainbow darter eggs ranged from 1.7 to 1.9 mm in diameter and were clear with a yellow yolk. Fantail darter protolarvae hatched at 5.8 to 6.5 mm total length and rainbow darter protolarvae hatched at 6.0 to 6.2 mm total length. The yolk sac was larger in the fantail darter and fin-ray formation was more rapid than that reported for other darter species in Lake Erie tributaries. Growth rate of the rainbow darter was similar to that of the greenside darter (Etheostoma blennioides). Fantail darter eggs were spawned on the undersides of rocks, similar only to the johnny darter (E. nigrum). Larvae of the fantail and rainbow darters can be separated from other percids in Lake Eric tributaries by length at yolk absorption, length at fin-ray formation, and pigmentation patterns.