Elassoma alabamae Mayden, 1993
Spring pygmy sunfish

Family:  Elassomatidae (Pygmy sunfishes)
Max. size: 
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: endemic to Moss Spring and (historically) adjacent springs in the middle Tennessee River drainage in Alabama, U.S.A.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-13; Anal spines: 1-3; Anal soft rays: 5-8. Transverse scale rows: 10-13. Distinguished from all other family members by having 3 or less dorsal spines (versus 7 or more), 6-7 broad dark bars along flanks (versus 7 or more), 16-18 peduncle scale rows (versus 18-24).
Biology:  Found on sand, clay, mud and/or limestone substrate commonly associated with rooted, submerged vegetation (Ref. 58011). Oviparous, eggs are deposited in aquatic vegetation, preferably on strands of Ceratophyllum sp. when available (Ref. 58020).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 28 November 2011 (B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.