Arkansas darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arkansas darter |
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The Arkansas darter (Etheostoma cragini) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called darters, which are part of the perch family. This family also includes well-known fish like perches and pikeperches. The Arkansas darter lives only in certain parts of the United States. You can find it in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
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What the Arkansas Darter Looks Like
The Arkansas darter has an olive-brown back with small black spots. Its belly is usually yellowish-white. However, during the breeding season, male darters have a bright orange belly. This fish also has a black, wedge-shaped mark under its eye. You can see 12 to 14 dark stripes along its sides. The Arkansas darter can grow up to about 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long.
Where the Arkansas Darter Lives
Even though it is called the Arkansas darter, this fish is mostly found in Kansas. Its home range includes the Arkansas River system. This area stretches into eastern Colorado, southwestern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, and north-central Oklahoma.
How the Arkansas Darter Behaves
The Arkansas darter moves around in streams. It can travel several kilometers up or down stream. It does this to find the best water flow. This fish eats small insects and their larvae. Sometimes, it also eats plant material like seeds. Arkansas darters become adults when they are about one year old. They lay their eggs in the spring and summer. The eggs are placed in shallow water on gravel. They can be in open areas or among piles of leaves and other natural debris.
Protecting the Arkansas Darter
The IUCN lists the Arkansas darter as "Near Threatened." This means it could become endangered in the future. The fish lives in only a few places. One big threat is when water levels in streams drop. This happens because people pump too much groundwater. Another threat is new buildings and towns being built in the eastern part of its range. Dry periods, called droughts, also make water levels fall. Pollution from places like animal feedlots can also harm the fish.
- Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. Etheostoma cragini. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 4 August 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Etheostoma cragini para niños
