Status and Synonymy of the American Percid Fish Hadropterus scierus

Abstract
The serrate preopercle can not be used to separate scierus in a genus or subgenus (Serraria), because nigrofasciatus, type species of Hadropterus, is similarly characterized. The two species are closely related but do not intergrade where their ranges narrowly overlap. The moderate union of the gill-membranes in scierus is not adequate for generic separation. The nominal subspecies (serrula) of Texas is not separable on available evidence. A distinct subspecies, not named in this paper, occupies the Guadalupe River system in Texas. The nomenclato-rial history of H. scierus is outlined in a full synonymy. H maxinkuckiensis of Indiana is not a close relative of H. scierus, but rather is a synonym of H. maculatus.