Ambloplites ariommus

Ambloplites ariommus formerly was regarded as a subspecies of A. rupestris. The ariommus-rupestris intermediates reported from Missouri and Arkansas lowlands and northern Alabama could be referred to A. ariommus, based on morphological characters. The identity of Ambloplites in the Neosho River system and southeastern Missouri is "difficult to resolve, perhaps due to extensive introduction of mixed stocks of A. rupestris." See Lee et al. (1980) for primary literature citations.

Roe et al. (2008) noted that morphological, mitochondrial, and allozyme characters do not allow discrimination between A. rupestris and A. ariommus within the Interior Highlands; this may indicate that A. ariommus never occurred west of the Mississippi River, or it could indicate that if A. ariommus occurred in these drainages, it has now become introgressed with A. rupestris (Roe et al. 2008).

Roe et al. (2008) stated that the distinctiveness of Mobile Basin A. ariommus warrants further study using genetic evidence (that population might turn out to be a distinct species).

Wide range in south-central North America; no major threats in most of range.

This species is widely distributed and common in Gulf slope drainages, above and below the Fall Line, from the Apalachicola River drainage, Georgia and Florida, west to the lower Mississippi River basin, Louisiana; and in the St. Francis, Black, Arkansas, Red, and upper Ouachita river drainages, Missouri and Arkansas; upper Guadalupe river drainage, Texas, where probably introduced (Page and Burr 2011). Populations west of the Mississippi River may actually represent A. rupestris or perhaps A. ariommus that has been introgressed by A. rupestris (Roe et al. 2008; see taxonomy comments).

No major threats are known in most of the range.