Coldwater darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coldwater darter |
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The coldwater darter (Etheostoma ditrema) is a small, freshwater fish. It is a type of darter, which belongs to the same family as perches. This fish lives only in certain parts of the United States. You can find it in the Coosa River system, which flows through Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
What Does It Look Like?
The coldwater darter has a dark brown back with nine blotches that look like saddles. Its sides have irregular brown spots, and some fish even have darker centers that form horizontal lines. There are three spots stacked up near its tail fin, and usually a dark bar under its eye.
Its back fin and tail fin have dark spots on their rays (the bony parts that support the fin). Other fins might have spots too.
When male coldwater darters are ready to spawn (lay eggs), their colors become much brighter. Their belly turns scarlet, and reddish spots appear on their sides. The spiny part of their back fin gets a bluish band on the edge and in the middle, with red bands in between. The softer part of the back fin is clear, but it might have a slight bluish tint and a row of reddish spots. The anal fin (underneath the fish) becomes bluish with scattered black and reddish spots.
Most coldwater darters are about 3 cm (1.2 in) long, but some can grow up to 5.4 cm (2.1 in).
Where Does It Live?
The coldwater darter is found only in the Coosa River system. This area is in the Ridge and Valley Province, a region with mountains and valleys. You can find these fish in northeastern Alabama, northwestern Georgia, and the very southeastern part of Tennessee.
Its Home and Habits
Coldwater darters live in pools and streams that are fed by springs. They usually stay among underwater plants in water that is less than a meter (about 3 feet) deep. They often perch on clumps of aquatic moss, watercress, and milfoil. These plants provide good hiding spots and places to rest.
How It Was Named
The coldwater darter was first officially described in 1965 by two scientists, John S. Ramsey and Royal Dallas Suttkus. They found the first known specimen in a small stream that flows into the Chattooga River, near Lyerly, Georgia.
Scientists believe the coldwater darter is closely related to the Gulf darter (E. swaini). Some evidence suggests that the coldwater darter might actually be more than one species, and it could be split into two or more different species in the future.
See also
In Spanish: Etheostoma ditrema para niños
