Goldstripe darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goldstripe darter |
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The goldstripe darter (Etheostoma parvipinne) is a small, freshwater fish. It's a type of ray-finned fish called a darter. Darters belong to the same family as perches. This fish gets its name from the shiny gold stripe along its body.
Goldstripe darters live only in the southeastern United States. You can find them in streams that flow into the Gulf of Mexico, from Texas all the way to Georgia. They also live in parts of the Mississippi River area, reaching as far north as Missouri and Kentucky. These fish prefer small springs, streams, and creeks. They like places with lots of plants and leafy debris in the water.
Female goldstripe darters lay their sticky eggs many times between March and June. They attach the eggs to plants, gravel, and rocks. The goldstripe darter is a common fish with a wide range. Because of this, experts say it is a species of "least concern" for conservation. This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
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Where Goldstripe Darters Live
The goldstripe darter lives across the Gulf Coastal Plain. This area includes parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. They also live in river systems that flow into the lower Mississippi River, reaching as far west as the Colorado River Basin in Texas.
Goldstripe darters have been found in many river systems. These include the Savannah River, Apalachicola Basin, and the Pearl River. They are also in the Red River, Brazos River, and Colorado River.
It's hard to know exactly how their living areas have changed over time. This is because there aren't many old records about them. But today, scientists believe that goldstripe darter populations are stable.
Goldstripe Darter's Environment
What Kind of Home Do They Like?
Goldstripe darters usually live in small springs, streams, and creeks. They like places with lots of plants, algae, or fallen leaves and twigs. They prefer sandy or small gravel bottoms. You usually won't find them in rivers wider than 15 feet. They also don't like places with large gravel or muddy bottoms.
These fish prefer water that is slightly acidic. They like temperate climates, which are not too hot and not too cold.
What Do Goldstripe Darters Eat?
The goldstripe darter eats small insects and other tiny creatures. Their diet includes:
- Midge larvae (young midges)
- Dipteran pupae (young flies)
- Caddisfly larvae (young caddisflies)
- Dytiscid beetle larvae (young diving beetles)
- Small crayfish
Other Fish Living Nearby
Goldstripe darters often share their homes with other types of fish. Some of these include:
- Erimyzon oblongus (creek chubsucker)
- Etheostoma collettei (creole darter)
- Etheostoma gracile (slough darter)
- Etheostoma proeliare (cypress darter)
- Etheostoma whipplei (redfin darter)
- Notropis atrocaudalis (blackspot shiner)
- Notropis umbratilis (redfin shiner)
- Noturus nocturnus (freckled madtom)
- Semotilus atromaculatus (creek chub)
Some of these fish, especially other darters, might compete with the goldstripe darter for food and space.
Goldstripe Darter Life Cycle
When they are fully grown, goldstripe darters are usually about 35 to 55 millimeters long. That's about 1.4 to 2.2 inches. The largest goldstripe darter ever recorded was a male, measuring 67 millimeters (about 2.6 inches).
Reproduction
Goldstripe darters likely lay eggs from mid-March through June. During this time, the male fish change color. Their olive-brown bodies turn brown with black vertical stripes. The black mark under their eye gets darker, and their eyes turn bright red. Their fins also become darker, sometimes turning completely black.
Male darters will display their fins to other males if they feel threatened. But they don't do fancy dances to attract females. Males chase females and wait for them to lay eggs. Goldstripe darters mate with many different partners during the breeding season. They don't take care of their eggs or young after they are laid. Females lay eggs multiple times each year.
The eggs of the goldstripe darter are very sticky. They are laid one by one and attach to plants, gravel, or the sides of rocks. Goldstripe darters do not bury their eggs. A female can lay around 66 eggs at a time. Each egg is very tiny, about 0.86 millimeters wide.
Protecting Goldstripe Darters
Currently, the goldstripe darter is not considered an endangered species. Their numbers are believed to be steady. Because of this, there are no special programs just for goldstripe darters. However, they do benefit from general efforts to protect streams and the areas around them.
What Can Help Goldstripe Darters?
We don't have much information about where goldstripe darters lived a long time ago. This makes it hard to know if their living areas have shrunk. To keep an eye on them, scientists should regularly check how many goldstripe darters live in small streams.
Goldstripe darters can be harmed by dirt and mud in the water. This can happen from logging, changing stream paths, or farm runoff. Plans that help keep forests and plants along streams are good for these fish. Since goldstripe darter groups often live separately, it would be hard for them to come back if their home was disturbed.
