Etheostoma faulkneri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Etheostoma faulkneri
E. faulkneri male
E. faulkneri female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Percidae
Genus:	Etheostoma
Species:	E. faulkneri
Binomial name
Etheostoma faulkneri Sterling & Warren 2020
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The Yoknapatawpha darter (Etheostoma faulkneri) is a small, colorful freshwater fish. It's a type of ray-finned fish, which means its fins are supported by bony rays. This special darter belongs to a group of fish called perches. It lives only in the Yocona River area in north-central Mississippi, United States. This makes it an "endemic" species, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world!

Scientists first thought the Yoknapatawpha darter was just a special kind of Yazoo darter. But after looking closely at their DNA and body shapes, they found out these fish were actually different species. The fish in the Yocona River watershed were then named Etheostoma faulkneri in 2020.

What Does It Look Like?

Yoknapatawpha darters are small fish. Male darters can grow up to 64 millimetres (2.5 in) long. This is about 2.5 inches. Female darters are a bit smaller, growing up to 49 millimetres (1.9 in) long, which is about 1.9 inches.

Where Does It Live?

The Yoknapatawpha darter lives in small, clear streams. These streams are often fed by natural springs. The bottom of their homes can be made of clay, sand, gravel, or soft mud.

You can find these darters in the streams that feed into the Yocona River. These streams are located in Lafayette, Yalobusha, and Calhoun counties in Mississippi. They might also live in the southwestern part of Panola County.

How It Got Its Name

The scientific name for this darter, Etheostoma faulkneri, honors William Faulkner. He was a famous writer who was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi.

The common name, Yoknapatawpha darter, also comes from William Faulkner. He used the name "Yoknapatawpha" as a fictional name for the Yocona River in his stories.