Geographic Range Aphredoderus sayanus is found only in North America and is believed to have occupied the Mississippi Valley before the ancestors of most modern-day fishes had migrated into the region (Pflieger, 1975). Today pirate perch are found throughout the lowlands and surrounding areas of the southeastern Ozarks, in lakes and pools east of the Mississippi River and as far south as eastern Texas. (Pflieger, 1975) Biogeographic Regions

nearctic native



Habitat Pirate perch are found in clear warm water with low currents; these include bottomland lakes, overflow ponds and the quiet pools and backwaters of low-gradient streams (Pflieger, 1975). Within these areas pirate perch tend to congregate where there is dense vegetation, woody debris, root masses and undercut banks (Monzyk et al., 1997). (Monzyk, et al., 1997; Pflieger, 1975) Habitat Regions

temperate

freshwater Aquatic Biomes

lakes and ponds

rivers and streams

Physical Description Pirate perch are unusual in that their urogenital opening is positioned far anteriorally under the throat (Fletcher, et. Al. 2004). This feature is not present in juveniles, as the anus migrates with maturity. Pirate perch are grayish with black speckles and have a narrow, vertical, dark bar at the base of the tail fin and under the eye (Pflieger, 1975). Pirate perch have a single dorsal fin and ctenoid scales on the head and body. The tail fin is slightly notched, not deeply forked. The gill cover has a sharp spine. Dorsal and anal fins each have 2 or 3 weak spines at front (Pflieger, 1975). The mouth is moderately large with a slightly projecting lower jaw (Clay, 1962). The lateral line is incomplete or underdeveloped in pirate perch from the Midwest, but specimens closer to the Atlantic coast show a much better developed lateral line (Eddy, 1969). Pirate perch are sexually dimorphic with females being larger and more full-bodied than males (Tiemann, 2004). (Clay, 1962; Eddy, 1969; Fletcher, et al., 2004; Pflieger, 1975; Tiemann, 2004) Other Physical Features

ectothermic

heterothermic

bilateral symmetry Sexual Dimorphism

female larger

sexes shaped differently Range length 6.35 to 12.7 mm 0.25 to 0.50 in

Average length 6.1 mm 0.24 in

Development Larval pirate perch look very similar to adults, except in the placement of the anus. Prolarvae and early postlarvae have 12-15 preanal and 13-196 postanal myomeres (Hogue, 1976). Once these fish reach 13 mm, the number of preanal myomeres will decrese as the anus begins migration toward the gular region (Hogue, 1976). (Hogue, 1976)

Reproduction It was first suggested that the migration of the anus in A. sayanus was to facilitate gill brooding of its eggs, as is found in northern cavefishes (Amblyopsis spelaea) with similar morphological features. However it was noted that the space within the branchial cavity of A. sayanus is insufficient to hold an entire clutch of eggs (Katula, 1992). Pirate perch actually spawn in underwater root masses and use their forward facing urogenital pores to deposit eggs and release sperm into the floating canopy (Fletcher et al., 2004). Fletcher (2004) observed that, within an assemblage, pirate perch were often of distinct developmental stages, strongly implying that the eggs had been deposited and/or fertilized during multiple spawning events. (Fletcher, et al., 2004; Katula, 1992) Male pirate perch guard nests from other males wishing to fertilize the eggs. These behaviors are aggressive and probably relate to selection pressures imposed by intense competition for fertilization success in group spawning (Fletcher et al., 2004). (Fletcher, et al., 2004) Mating System

polygynandrous (promiscuous) Spawning generally occurs in May in floating root masses parallel to water flow. Female clutch size is about 100-400, depending on body size; in a single root mass, up to 2000 total offspring were found to be present in a single nest. Female pirate perch thrust their heads and release their eggs into the root masses and males congregate there to fertilize them (Fletcher et al., 2004). (Fletcher, et al., 2004) Key Reproductive Features

iteroparous

seasonal breeding

sexual

fertilization external

broadcast (group) spawning

oviparous Breeding interval Breeding occurs once yearly.

Breeding season Spawning occurs during the spring.

Range number of offspring 100 to 400 The extent of parental involvement in the rearing of pirate perch is debated. Some sources suggest that parents guard the nest until the larvae are a little less than a centimeter long (Forbes and Richardson, 1920). However, more recent papers suggest that there is no evidence of extended parental care (Fletcher et al., 2004). (Fletcher, et al., 2004; Forbes and Richardson, 1920) Parental Investment

no parental involvement

pre-fertilization provisioning protecting female



Lifespan/Longevity Maximum longevity in the wild is 4 years (Pflieger, 1975). (Pflieger, 1975) Range lifespan

Status: wild unknown to unknown years

Average lifespan

Status: wild 4 years

Range lifespan

Status: captivity unknown (low) hours

Average lifespan

Status: captivity 4 years AnAge

Communication and Perception In addition to the lateral line sensory system present in most fishes, an extensive array of sensory pores on the head of A. sayanus may enable these nocturnal fishes to navigate in the dark (Fletcher et al., 2004). There is little known about communication in this species. (Fletcher, et al., 2004) Perception Channels

tactile

vibrations

chemical

Food Habits This carnivorous fish eats primarily immature aquatic insects, small crustaceans and sometimes small fish (Pflieger, 1975). (Pflieger, 1975) Primary Diet

carnivore insectivore eats non-insect arthropods

Animal Foods

fish

insects

aquatic crustaceans

Predation In the root masses that the pirate perch use for spawning, adult and juvenile salamanders, as well as eastern dobsonfly larvae (Corydalus cornutus), have been found. It is unclear whether these animals are predators of the eggs or not (Fletcher, et al 2004). Adult pirate perch may be eaten by larger fish, piscivorous birds, otters or mink. (Fletcher, et al., 2004)

Ecosystem Roles Pirate perch are solitary and secretive, hiding during the daylight hours in thick growths of aquatic plants or accumulations of organic debris. They are mainly active at night (Pflieger, 1975). Pirate perch impact the populations of their small, invertebrate prey. (Clay, 1962; Pflieger, 1975)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive Pirate perch are not widely used as food or recognized as game fish.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative There are no known negative impacts of pirate perch on humans.

Conservation Status Pirate perch are not generally common because they occupy relatively uncommon habitats. Within those habitats however they are abundant. In one study in Arkansas pirate perch were the most common species found in their sampling, representing 21% of 8,113 fish taken (Killgore and Baker, 1996). In Ohio pirate perch are considered endangered. Development has significantly impacted the habitats of pirate perch because the bottomland lakes and ponds they occupy have been extensively destroyed by dredging, ditch construction, draining and siltation (Trautman, 1957). (Killgore and Baker, 1996; Ohio Division of Wildlife, 2000; Trautman, 1957) IUCN Red List No special status

US Federal List No special status

CITES No special status

Contributors Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web, Courtney Egan (editor). Meghan Miner (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Kevin Wehrly (editor, instructor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Glossary Nearctic living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico. bilateral symmetry having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria. carnivore an animal that mainly eats meat chemical uses smells or other chemicals to communicate ectothermic animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature external fertilization fertilization takes place outside the female's body fertilization union of egg and spermatozoan freshwater mainly lives in water that is not salty. heterothermic having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature. insectivore An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders. iteroparous offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes). motile having the capacity to move from one place to another. natatorial specialized for swimming native range the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic. nocturnal active during the night oviparous reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body. polygynandrous the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females. seasonal breeding breeding is confined to a particular season sexual reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female solitary lives alone tactile uses touch to communicate temperate that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle). vibrations movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others