ML083380667

SEIS Reference - Trinectes Maculates Fasciatus: Hogchoker

ML083380667
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Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	12/03/2008
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Trinectes maculates fasciatus hogchoker THIS ACCOUNT IS IN PROCESS. PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORM Type Locality India [?] (Bloch and Schneider 1801 in Eschmeyer 1990).

Etymology/Derivation of Scientific Name Trinectes: three swimmer; maculatus: spotted, in reference to the color pattern of the eyed side (Ross 2001 Synonymy Pleuronectes maculatus Bloch and Schneider 1801:157 in Eschmeyer 1990.

Achirus fasciatus Evermann 1899:310.

Trinectes maculatus Cook 1959:37.

Achirus mollis Wailes 1854:333.

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Characters Maximum size: 212 mm SL (Merriman 1939).

Coloration: The color of the eyed side is highly variable, ranging from light and dark brown to olive green.

background is a lighter shade; it may have a uniform pattern or many small, dark elongate blotches that pro mottled appearance. Additionally, there are always six to eight dark bands running across the body, these m light in small specimens. The blind side usually immaculate and may have light pigmentation. All fins are pigmented with a mottled pattern that matches the body margins (Ross 2001).

Teeth count:

Counts: 66-75 lateral line scales (Hubbs et al 1991). There are 65-77 SC, 48-57 dorsal rays, 38-42 anal ray pelvic rays, and 4 (3-4) left pelvic rays (Ross 2001).

Body shape: Small, oblong flatfish with small eyes (Ross 2001).

Mouth position: Vertical mouth (Ross 2001).

External morphology: Right pectoral fin absent (Hubbs et al 1991). The dorsal and anal fins are elongated, dorsal fin originating on the head and extending to the caudal peduncle. The pectoral fins are absent (small may have a few rudimentary rays). The pelvic fins are symmetrical. The body is covered with small, cteno and the lateral line is complete. Scales on the blind side of the head have cirri (Ross 2001).

Distribution (Native and Introduced)

U.S. distribution: Coastal species known from Massachusetts south along the Atlantic coast, and throughou of Mexico to Venezuela (Hubbs et al 1991).

Texas distribution: May be found inhabiting most of the bays and estuaries in the state; also found in the lo reaches of coastal streams (Hubbs et al 1991).

Abundance/Conservation status (Federal, State, NGO)

Populations in the southern United States are currently secure (Warren et al. 2000).

Habitat Associations Macrohabitat: Generally inhabit nonvegetated, sanded areas, but also occur over silt or mud bottoms (Reid Castanga 1955). Occur in fresh water and estuaries, with movement between the two habitats related to bot seasonal and age changes. In coastal areas of Mississippi, hogchoker habitats are generally those of modera (2-7 m), low water clarity, moderate oxygen levels, and mud-sand substrata (Peterson 1996).

Mesohabitat:

Biology Spawning season: From June through August (Pearson 1941; Dovel et al. 1969; Koski 1978; Smith 1986).

Spawning location: In estuaries in the evening, from approximately 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Hildebrand and Cab Reproductive strategy:

Fecundity: Has been estimated at 10,000 to 34,000 eggs (Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928; Castagna 1955).

Age at maturation: Varies from two (Koski 1978) to three (Wockley 1968) or four years (Mansueti and Pa Page 2 of 4 hogchoker Trinectes maculates fasciatus 12/03/2008 http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~tbonner/txfishes/trinectes%20maculatus%20fasciatus.htm

1956).

Migration: After hatching, the larvae move away from the higher salinity (15-18 ppt) spawning grounds int salinity areas of estuary or freshwater streams. The following spring they move back downstream into low areas. This downstream distance is extended progressively each year until maturity, when they return to the spawning grounds. The upstream migration occurs each fall for the overwintering period (Dovel et al. 1969 Peterson 1996).

Longevity: Estimated anywhere from 6-12 years along Atlantic Coast (Mansueti and Pauly 1956; Wockly Dovel et al. 1969; Koski 1978).

Food habits: Generalized predators on small benthic invertebrates. Their diet generally consists of midges, ostracods, amphipods, aquatic insects, annelids, crustaceans, polychaetes and foraminiferans. Vascular plan and bottom materials are also occasionally ingested, but probably as an artifact of their benthic feeding (Hi and Schroeder 1928; Reid 1954; Castagna 1955; Darnell 1958; Wockley 1968; Carr and Adams 1973; Smi 1984). Small hogchokers (less than 60 mm SL) feed primarily on amphipods, whereas larger fish feed mor polychaetes and clam siphons (Smith et al. 1984).

Growth: Average SL for Mississippi hogchokers are: 21 mm, 42 mm, 60 mm, 74 mm, and 91 mm at ages 1 respectively (Peterson-Curtis 1996).

Phylogeny and morphologically similar fishes In estuaries, it is most similar to the lined sole (Achirus lineatus), from which it differs in lacking pectoral f having a more oblong (versus rounded) dorsal profile (Ross 2001).

Host Records Commercial or Environmental Importance References Carr, W. E. S., and C. A. Adams, 1973. Food habits of jevenile marine fishes occupying seagrass beds in the e zone near Crystal River, Florida. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 102(3):511-540.

Castagna, M. 1955. A study of the hogchoker, Trinectes maculates (Bloch and Schneider) in the Wakulla Rive Master's Thesis, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee.

Cook, F. A. 1959. Freshwater fishes in Mississippi. Mississippi Game and Fish Commission, Jackson. 239 pp.

Darnell, R. M. 1958. Food habits of fishes and larger invertebrates of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, an estuar community. Univ. Texas, Publ. Inst. Mar. Sci. 5:353-416.

Dovel, W. L., J. A. Mihursky, and A. J. McErlean. 1969. Life history aspects of the hogchoker, Trinectes macu the Patuxent River estuary, Maryland. Chesapeake Sci. 110(2):104-119.

Eschmeyer, W. N. 1990. Catalog of the genre of recent fishes. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Evermann, B. W. 1899. Report on investigations by the U.S. Fish Commission in Mississippi, Louisiana, and T 1897. Rept. U.S. Fish Comm. 24:287-310.

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Hildebrand, S. F., and L. E. Cable. 1938. Further notes on the development and life histories of some teleosts a Beaufort, North Carolina. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 48(24):505-642.

Hildebrand, S. F., and W. S. Schroeder. 1928. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 43(I):1-336.

Hubbs, C., R. J. Edwards, and G. P. Garrett. 1991. An annotated checklist to the freshwater fishes of Texas, wi identification of species. Texas Journal of Science, Supplement 43(4):1-56.

Koski, R. T. 1978. Age, growth, and maturity of the hogchoker, Trinectes maculates, in the Hudson River, New Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 107(3):449-453.

Mansueti, R., and R. Pauly. 1956. Age and Growth of the northern hogchoker, Trinectes maculates maculates Patuxent River, Maryland. Copeia 1956(1):60-62.

Merriman, D. 1939. Notes on some marine fishes from Coneticut, with comments on the scales from Elops sau Copeia 1939(2):113-114.

Pearson, J. C. 1941. The young of some fishes taken in lower Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, with special reference gray sea trout, Cynoscion regalis (Bloch). Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 50(36):79-102.

Peterson, T. L. 1996. Seasonal migration in the southern hogchoker, Trinectes maculatus fasciatus (Achiridae)

Res. Rept. 9(13):169-176.

Peterson-Curtis, T. L. 1996. Partial life history of southern hogchokers, Trinectes maculatus fasciatus, in the B of Biloxy, Mississippi. Gulf of Mex. Sci. 1996(2):81-88.

Reid, G. K., Jr. 1954. An ecological study of the Gulf of Mexico fishes, in the vicinity of Cedar Key, Florida. B Sci. Gulf and Carib. 4(1):1-94.

Ross, S. T. 2001. The Inland Fishes of Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi 624 pp.

Smith, S. 1986. Reproductive ecology, population dynamics and seasonal movement of the hogchoker in the E River, Virginia. Master's thesis, College of William and MAry, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, G Point.

Smith, S. M., J. G. Joff, S. P. O'Neil, and M. P. Weinstein. 1984. Community and trophic organization of nekto utilization salt marsh habitats, York River, Virginia. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 82(3):455-467.

Wailes, B. L. C. 1854. Report on the agriculture and geology of Mississippi. E. Barksdale, State Printer, Jackso Warren, L. W., Jr., B. M. Burr, S. J. Walsh, H. L. Bart, Jr., R. C. Cashner, D. A. Etnier, B. J. Freeman, B. R. K R. L. Mayden, H. W. Robison, S. T. Ross, and W. C. Starnes. 2000. Diversity, Distribution, and Conse status of the native freshwater fishes of the southern United States. Fisheries 25(10):7-29.

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