Saffron darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saffron darter |
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The saffron darter (Etheostoma flavum) is a small, colorful freshwater fish. It's a type of ray-finned fish called a darter. Darters belong to the same fish family as perches. This special fish lives only in certain streams and creeks in the eastern United States, specifically in Kentucky and Tennessee.
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What Does a Saffron Darter Look Like?
The saffron darter has a blunt nose, like many darters. Male saffron darters often have a bright yellow belly. Their upper body is usually an olive green color. This is different from a similar fish, the black darter (Etheostoma duryi), which has more orange or red colors.
Adult male saffron darters have yellow or orange lips. The black darter, however, has green or gray lips. The saffron darter also has a dark stripe along its side. This stripe is almost as dark as the 7 to 9 black spots on its body. This little fish can grow up to about 7 centimeters (about 2.7 inches) long.
Where Do Saffron Darters Live?
Saffron darters can be found in the lower parts of the Cumberland and Tennessee River systems. These areas are in Kentucky and Tennessee. They live upstream in the Cumberland River areas, up to the Harpeth River. They also live upstream in the Tennessee River areas (only on the east side). This includes the upper Duck River, upper Buffalo River, and Indian River.
What Are Their Homes Like?
The saffron darter likes to live in rocky pools. These are calm, deeper areas of water. They also live in the fast-moving water nearby, called riffles. These homes are usually found in the smaller parts of rivers, like headwaters, creeks, and small rivers. Some scientists think the saffron darter is one of the most common darters in these types of streams.
How Were Saffron Darters Discovered?
The saffron darter was first officially described in 1989. This means scientists gave it its scientific name and wrote down its features. The scientists who described it were David A. Etnier and Reeve Maclaren Bailey. They found the first official example of this fish in Kentucky.
The saffron darter is closely related to the black darter. Sometimes, these two types of darters can even have babies together. They also sometimes compete for the same living spaces. Often, you'll find saffron darters living upstream (further up the river) from natural barriers, while black darters live downstream (further down the river).
