Citico darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Citico darter |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percidae |
| Genus: | Etheostoma |
| Species: |
E. sitikuense
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| Binomial name | |
| Etheostoma sitikuense Blanton, 2008
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The Citico darter (Etheostoma sitikuense) is a small, colorful fish that lives in freshwater. It's a type of darter, which are part of the same family as perches. This special fish is only found in Tennessee, USA. It used to be considered the same as another darter, but scientists now know it's its own unique species. There are now four distinct species in this group, including the Citico darter.
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Where the Citico Darter Lives
The Citico darter is an endangered species. This means there aren't many left, and they are at risk of disappearing. You can only find them in a few places in eastern Tennessee. These places are Abrams Creek, Citico Creek, and the Tellico River.
Why Their Homes Changed
In the 1950s, Citico darters disappeared from Abrams Creek. This happened when chemicals were used to remove other fish that people thought were competing with rainbow trout. Scientists believe the Citico darter used to live in many more rivers, including the upper Tennessee River and parts of the Cumberland River.
Today, most Citico darters live in Citico Creek. This population has helped restock Abrams Creek and the Tellico River. Building dams like the Tellico Dam and Chilhowee Dam has also hurt the darters. Dams block fish from moving freely. They also cause habitat loss, which means the fish lose their natural homes. Pollution from siltation (when dirt and mud build up) and poor water quality have also made it harder for these fish to survive.
What the Citico Darter Needs to Live
The Citico darter is a benthic species. This means it lives on the bottom of streams. It likes fast-flowing parts of streams called riffles. It hides under small rocks and boulders. Big, flat rocks are important for them to build their nests.
What They Eat and Who Eats Them
Adult Citico darters can be eaten by bigger fish like the smallmouth bass. Younger darters and their eggs might be eaten by many different animals. The Citico darter's diet includes small insect larvae and nymphs. These are tiny creatures like midges, black fly larvae, caddis larvae, mayfly nymphs, and stonefly nymphs. They also eat small crustaceans like amphipods and isopods.
Threats to Their Survival
Citico darters need cool, clear, and flowing water to survive. They need streams with a moderate slope and rocky riffle areas. The biggest dangers to the Citico darter are sedimentation and pollution. Sedimentation happens when dirt and mud wash into the water. This can come from riverbanks eroding or from runoff from farms. These problems make the water dirty and can cover the rocks where darters live and lay eggs. Many parts of Citico Creek flow through private land, where there aren't rules to protect the stream banks or the areas next to the water.
The Life of a Citico Darter
The Citico darter can grow to be about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) long. They usually live for up to two years.
How They Reproduce
Citico darters breed from late April through June. Male darters find and clean out spaces under large rocks. These spots become their nests. The males then try to attract females by moving their fins and tails. Females lay an average of 26 eggs at a time. They can lay up to six groups of eggs in one breeding season. Scientists have seen nests with many eggs, sometimes up to 200. This suggests that several females might lay their eggs in the same nest. The eggs hatch in about 11 to 14 days. The young fish are ready to have their own babies after one year.
Protecting the Citico Darter
The Citico darter is still listed as a threatened species. This means it's still at risk, but there's good news! It's the most stable member of its group of darters. This is because it now lives in three different streams in the Little Tennessee River system.
Conservation groups are working hard to help these fish. They are raising darters in special facilities and then releasing them into Abrams Creek and the Tellico River. These populations seem to be doing well and are reproducing on their own. This effort, led by groups like Conservation Fisheries, Inc. (CFI), is helping to ensure the Citico darter survives for the future.
 | Laphonza Butler |
 | Daisy Bates |
 | Elizabeth Piper Ensley |
