Data from: Phylogenetic and morphological diversity of the Etheostoma zonistium species complex with the description of a new species endemic to the Cumberland Plateau of Alabama

We provide a description of the Blueface Darter, Etheostoma cyanoprosopum,
which is distributed in the upper Sipsey Fork of the Mobile Basin and the
upper portion of the Bear Creek system in the Tennessee River Drainage.
The distinctiveness of Etheostoma cyanoprosopum is assessed through
analysis of morphological variation and molecular phylogenetic diversity
within the Etheostoma zonistium species complex. In addition to analyzing
disparity of morphometric and meristic traits, we present phylogenetic
analyses of a mitochondrial gene and two nuclear genes and identify
genetic clusters through analysis of 25 microsatellite loci. In the
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene tree, Etheostoma cyanoprosopumis resolved
as the sister lineage to a clade containing all other species of the
Etheostoma zonistium complex. Etheostoma zonistium is paraphyletic with
respect to both Etheostoma pyrrhogaster and Etheostoma cervus, which do
not resolve as sister species in the mtDNA gene tree. The two nuclear gene
trees are much less resolved, but the S7 ribosomal protein intron 1 (S7)
gene tree resolves Etheostoma cyanoprosopum and all sampled populations of
Etheostoma zonistium as a clade with strong Bayesian posterior node
support. Etheostoma cyanoprosopum is morphologically differentiated from
Etheostoma zonistium by a shallower body, a more elongate nape, a higher
number of lateral line scales, a higher number of transverse scale rows,
and differences in coloration.