Micropterus warriorensis, 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 : 396-397

Micropterus warriorensis, Baker, Johnston, and Blanton , new species

Warrior Bass

Figs. 1 & 4 A–C

Holotype. Alabama. Blount Co., USNM 398704, 194 mm SL, Calvert Prong, Black Warrior River, 4.0 km N Oneonta, date unknown.

Paratypes. Blount Co., AUM 51060 (1,158), Calvert Prong, 4.0 km N Oneonta, 11 March 2009; AUM 51061 (1,200), Little Warrior River, St. Hwy 75, 11.3 km SW Oneonta, 12 March 2009.

Additional Materials (nontypes).

Warrior River Drainage

Alabama. Blount Co., UAIC 11964.08 (1, 127), Gurley Creek, Locust Fork, W St. Hwy 75, 2.1 km N of Palmerdale, 5 July 1998; (1, 255), Calvert Prong at Horton’s Mill Covered Bridge, 6.4 km N of Oneonta, at Covered Bridge Rd, just off St. Hwy. 75, 24 September 1998; (1, 305), 30 March 1999; (1, 246), 26 October 1999; (3, 158–275), 11 March 2009; AUM 51107, 51116, 58742 (4, 146–220), Blackburn Fork, Little Warrior River, at St. Hwy 75, 12 March 2009; AUM 6776 (2,143–174), Blackburn Fork, Little Warrior River, 7.4 km SW of Allgood, CR 15, 4 May 1973; AUM 58743(3, 137–194), Murphy Creek, at Hwy 31, 9 May 2011; Jefferson Co., AUM 51105 (4, 140–200), Turkey Creek, Locust Fork, at St. Hwy 131, 14 May 2009; UAIC 12078.1 (1, 198), alongside Turkey Creek wastewater treatment plant, Locust Fork, 2.4 km ESE Pinson, 10 September 1998; UAIC 11991.07 (2,149–150), unnamed tributary to Turkey Creek, Locust Fork, at S Old Bradford Road, 0.7 km NNW Pinson, 22 June, 1998; UAIC 12088.09, (1, 207), Turkey Creek, Locust Fork, downstream St. Hwy 79, 1.1 km NW Pinson, 30 September 1998; UAIC 10442.05 (1, 169), Black Warrior River, Dug Hollow Rd, 31 July 1992; UAIC 11971.09 (1, 200), un-named tributary to Turkey Creek, Locust Fork, just N Hwy 151 bridge, 0.9 km NW Pinson, 22 June 1998; AUM 6777 (4, 168–248), Turkey Creek, Tombigbee River, 5.9 km NW Pinson, at Crosston, 17 May 1973; UAIC 3346.09 (1, 135), Turkey Creek, Locust Fork, along CR 121 between Bradford and Crosston, 17 April 1970. Lawrence Co., UAIC 13311.09 (1,149), Thompson Creek, Sipsey Fork, at FS Rd 208, 16 km SSW Hickory Grove; UAIC 133309.11 (1, 152), Borden Creek, Sipsey Fork, at FS Rd 229, 16 km SSE Youngtown, 24 June 2001. Tuscaloosa Co., AUM 58745 (5, 130–244), Blue Creek, at Hwy 47, 11 May 2011; UAIC 3042.08 (1, 136), Turkey Creek, 22.6 km N Tuscaloosa on Hwy 69, August 1968. Winston Co., AUM 51106 (1, 171), Sipsey Fork, CR 6, 15 May 2009; UAIC 1695.15 (1, 154), Sipsey Fork; UAIC 13298.09 (1, 132), Borden Creek, Sipsey Fork, 1 km upstream CR 6 and Sipsey Wilderness Recreation Area, 22 June 2001; UAIC 13700.04 (1, 152), Sipsey Fork, at St. Hwy 333, 3.2 km NE Rock Creek, 1 March 2002; UAIC 13297.08 (1, 148), Sipsey Fork at mouth of Hurricane Creek, 5.1 km SW Grayson, 22 June 2001; UAIC 13299.11 (1, 150), Inman Creek 4.2 km NW Addison, 23 June 2001; AUM 58742 (1, 146), Little Warrior River, at Hwy 75, 23 June 2010.

Diagnosis. Member of the M. coosae species group that differs from all species by the usual absence of a tongue tooth patch (absent in 82.9% of specimens vs. usually present in others, or absent in 34.5% or fewer), when present tooth patch is small (less than 1.0 mm). Further distinguished from M. tallapoosae and M. chattahoochae by smaller scales (width 2.6% SL vs. 2.9%), more lateral-line scales (68–74 in 100%; mode = 69 vs. 61–67 in 77.2%; mode = 65, 66), more scale rows around the caudal peduncle (29–30 in 77.1%; mode = 29 vs. 26–28 in 79.4%; mode = 28), and more total lateral-line plus caudal-peduncle scales (96–103; mode = 98 vs. 89–98; mode = 93, 91); from M. chattahoochae by a narrower head (postfrontal width 11.2% SL vs. 11.8%); from M. coosae by lacking red fins and from M. tallapoosae and M. cahabae by having orange fin pigmentation on anal fin and often on posterior dorsal and ventral lobe of caudal fin; and from M. coosae by a wider head (11.2% vs. 11.0%).

Description. Micropterus warriorensis is a small species of bass that attains 360 mm SL and 0.8 kg. Meristics and measurements for diagnostic characters are provided in Tables 2–9 and general body shape and pigmentation patterns are illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 A–C .

Medium width head, postfrontal width 10.6–11.6% (11.2%), scale width 2.3–2.9% (2.6%), tongue tooth patch size 0–1.0 mm (mode = absent); lateral-line scales 68–74 (69), scales above lateral line 6–9 (7), scales below lateral line 10–13 (11), scales around caudal peduncle 28–30 (29); anterior dorsal-fin spines 9, posterior dorsal-fin spines 1, anal-fin spines 3; pectoral-fin rays 13–15 (15), posterior dorsal-fin rays 11–13 (12), anal-fin rays 10–11 (10), caudal-fin rays 17; pyloric caeca unbranched.

Body pigmentation above midline golden brown or light green; spawning males may be darker green. Below midline body white, often, spawning males with bluish tint anterior to pelvic fins; posterior to pelvic fins white with rows of black-dotted scales, and often irregular dark shaded areas. Venter uniformly white. Midline body with 6–13 pronounced black blotches, anterior 4–6 vertical bars, remainder distinct oval spots. Dorso-lateral row consists of 8–12 very irregular dark blotches, extending from area just above eye to posterior margin of posterior dorsal fin.

Spines of anterior dorsal fins dark green often tipped with white and membranes translucent medium green. Rays of posterior dorsal fin light green and tips of anterior five to six rays and associated membranes white; dark green dots on bases of membranes. Caudal-fin rays yellow-green with broad white border present along distal onehalf or more of superior and inferior margins; white border extends around posterior margin of caudal fin; thin-line of faint yellow-orange tint present along interior margins of white borders; membranes translucent yellow-green; usually, dark green dots present along basal portions of membranes; central portion of fin rays and associated membranes of anal fin faint orange; white or silver-white iridescence present at basal one-half; outer margin white. Pelvic-fin rays white and membranes may have white iridescence. Pectoral-fin rays yellow-green, and membranes light green.

Distribution. Micropterus warriorensis is endemic to the Black Warrior River system in the Piedmont region of east Alabama ( Fig. 5 ). Its scarcity or absence from tributaries in the central and northern portions of this drainage is likely due to the flat shallow nature of the streambed and absence of deep pools that would serve as sanctuaries during low water or drought conditions.

Remarks. Recent surveys for this species in the Black Warrior River drainage suggest a significant distributional decline ( Baker, pers. obs.). We strongly recommend a survey for this species throughout its range. Conservation measures may be necessary to insure persistence of the Warrior Bass.

Etymology. This species is named for the Black Warrior River, to which this species 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 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.

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.