Bridled darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridled darter |
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The bridled darter (scientific name: Percina kusha) is a small, freshwater fish. It's a type of darter, which are fish known for darting quickly along the bottom of rivers and streams. This fish belongs to the same family as perch and pikeperch. The bridled darter is one of many fish species found in the state of Tennessee.
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What is a Bridled Darter?
The bridled darter gets its name from a special stripe on its face. This stripe looks a bit like the bridle on a horse! These fish are not very colorful. Both males and females look similar, but males might be a bit darker.
Bridled darters have dark, round blotches along their sides. They can grow up to about 3 inches long. Unlike some other darters, they have a swim bladder, which helps them float. This means you might see them closer to the water's surface.
What Do Bridled Darters Eat?
Bridled darters are tiny hunters! They mostly eat small water bugs. Their favorite foods include mayfly nymphs (young mayflies) and blackfly larvae. They often feed off surfaces underwater, like rocks or logs. Sometimes, they wait patiently for food to float by in the current.
Where Do Bridled Darters Live?
Bridled darters are only found in a few places in the southern United States. You can find them in parts of the Coosa River in Georgia and Tennessee. They also live in the upper parts of the Conasauga River and in the Etowah River.
What Kind of Home Do They Like?
These small fish like to live in rivers that have flowing water. They prefer areas with calm pools and faster-moving sections called "riffles." Their ideal home has things like sunken logs and water plants. They also need clean water and a riverbed made of gravel or sand. Because they need such specific conditions, there aren't a huge number of bridled darters in the wild.
The Life of a Bridled Darter
Bridled darters usually live for about three years. They are considered a vulnerable species, which means they need protection to help their numbers grow.
How Do Bridled Darters Have Babies?
Bridled darters lay their eggs from mid-April to June. During this time, the water temperature is usually between 14 and 21 degrees Celsius (about 57 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit).
When it's time to lay eggs, male bridled darters can become competitive. Larger males might chase away smaller, weaker males to get a chance to mate. After the eggs are laid, they hatch in about one week.
