BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM


 DESCRIPTION. Fin ray and scale row counts and body proportions
appear in tables 6 and 9 through 15. A comparison of N. cerasinus
with other members of the Notropis cornutus species group is pre-
sented in table 3. Characters mentioned in the diagnosis are not re-
peated in the following paragraph:
 Lateral-line scales and those in surrounding area much taller than
wide, this character more pronounced in older fish, particularly in
adult males; anterior dorso-lateral scales (14) 15 to 20 (22); circum-
ferential scales (23) 24 to 28 (30); sum of anterior dorso-lateral and
circumferential scales (37) 41 to 47 (51); vertebrae (38) 39 (40); angle
of mouth to top of head averaging 57.50 (range 52.5-62.5); color of
dorsal region olive-brown, becoming steel-blue in breeding males;
mid-dorsal stripe gray-blue, slightly more than half as wide as eye
and extending around base of dorsal fin; red on cheek, opercle, lips
and snout of breeding males.
 VARIATION. Raney (1947: 126) described the sexual dimorphism
in breeding specimens of N. cerasinus. The following is a summary
of his findings:
 1. Males are more brilliantly colored than females, both with
regard to red pigment on fins and body and other dark colors on the
body.
 2. Nuptial tubercles are better developed in males.
 3. Males have a relatively small, non-protruding anal papilla;
in females this structure is quite swollen and protrudes posteriorly.
 4. Males have longer pectoral and pelvic fins than females.
 DISTRIBUTION. Limited to the upper part of the Roanoke River
drainage in Virginia and North Carolina and to a few eastern tribu-
taries of the New River system in Virginia, N. cerasinus has the most
restricted range of any Luxilus species. Unlike its near relative,
N. albeolus, it is usually confined to headwater streams. Fowler's
records (1922: 9, 12; 1923: 10; and 1945: 29) of N. cerasinus from the
James River system are based on specimens of N. cornutus.
 LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY. Raney's (1947) paper is the only
published work on the life history or ecology of this species. Con-
cerned also with several other species of Cyprinidae, it is quoted in
part here: "On June 21, 1946, in Otter River, Roanoke River system,
4 miles northeast of Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia, three min-
nows, Notropis cerasinus, Notropis ardens ardens and Chrosomus
oreas, were observed over a Nocomis leptocephalus nest. The stream
was a rather fast falling, clear mountain brook, about 75 feet wide


Vol. 8