Blotchside logperch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blotchside logperch |
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Percina caprodes burtoni Fowler, 1945 |
The Percina burtoni, also known as the blotchside logperch or blotchside darter, is a small, special fish. It's a type of ray-finned fish called a darter. This fish belongs to the same family as perches.
The blotchside logperch only lives in the United States. It is considered a vulnerable species, which means it needs our help to survive. Scientists are working to protect it.
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What is the Blotchside Logperch?
Scientists first officially named this fish P. c. burtoni in 1945. It was named by an American fish expert named Henry Weed Fowler. He found the first one in the Swannanoa River in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
The fish was named after Edward Milby Burton. He was another important naturalist who helped find this unique fish.
What Does the Blotchside Logperch Look Like?
The blotchside logperch has special markings that help identify it.
Body and Fins
This fish has cool blotches along its sides. It also has an orange band near the edge of its first dorsal fin (the fin on its back).
It has many fin rays and spines:
- 15-18 spines on its first dorsal fin
- 14-15 rays on its second dorsal fin
- 14-15 rays on its pectoral fins (side fins)
- 2 spines on its anal fin (bottom fin)
- 10-12 rays on its anal fin
Colors and Patterns
The blotchside logperch is olive green on its back. Its belly is a creamy white color. It has 8 to 10 dark green or black blotches along its sides. There is also a clear black spot at the base of its tail.
Its head is dark on top and white underneath. The first dorsal fin has a thin black edge. It also has a thin orange band and a wide black band at its base. The second dorsal fin and tail fin have several thin black bands. Other fins are usually clear or yellow.
Where Does the Blotchside Logperch Live?
The blotchside logperch is found only in the United States.
Habitat and Location
You can sometimes find this fish in the Tennessee River system. This includes parts of Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. It used to live in the Cumberland River system in Kentucky and Tennessee. It might still be found in a place called Little South Fork in Kentucky.
This fish likes to live in fast-moving streams. It is usually found over gravel in water that is about 0.5 to 1 meter (1.5 to 3 feet) deep.
Water Quality Needs
Blotchside logperch live in clear, fairly large streams. These streams usually have many different types of fish. This shows that the logperch needs very clean water to survive. It does not do well in areas where water is held back by dams, forming reservoirs.
Why is the Blotchside Logperch Vulnerable?
The blotchside logperch is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. This means its population is decreasing and it could become endangered.
Threats to Survival
Scientists know about several places where this fish lives. However, they don't know the total number of blotchside logperch in the world.
This fish is likely harmed by several things:
- Siltation: When too much dirt and mud get into the water.
- Turbidity: When the water becomes cloudy.
- Chemical pollution: Harmful chemicals in the water.
- Impoundment: When rivers are blocked by dams, changing the natural flow.
These problems make it hard for the blotchside logperch to find clean water and places to live. Protecting its habitat is very important for its future.
See also
In Spanish: Percina burtoni para niños
