NANFA-- Blue Ridge Sculpin

Bruce Stallsmith (fundulus_at_hotmail.com)
Mon, 01 Jan 2001 13:52:32 -0500

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I received the latest Copeia this past week, No. 4 (Dec. 22) for 2000. On
page 1007 is an article by Kinziger, Raesly and Dave Neely elevating a
previously recognized "race" of _Cottus bairdi_ to a new species, _C.
caeruleomentum_ the Blue Ridge Sculpin, found from Pennsylvania down through
Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.

First of all, I'd like to congratulate Dave for the article, and also his
drawings are very clear. Second of all, a question for Dave--reading between
the lines of the article I can see simmering evidence for at least one and
maybe two other species based on the data presented. Is it your feeling that
the Nanticoke population of this new species, isolated on the Delmarva
peninsula, is deserving of species recognition? It is an odd happenstance
that a highland fish like _Cottus_ sculpins are found way out on the seaward
edge of the current coastal plain, as is the Nanticoke population.

Inquiring minds want to know...

--Bruce Stallsmith
Huntsville, AL

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