Greenfin darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greenfin darter |
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The greenfin darter (Etheostoma chlorobranchium) is a small, colorful freshwater fish. It is a type of ray-finned fish known as a darter. Darters belong to the same family as perches. This fish is found only in the eastern United States.
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Where the Greenfin Darter Lives
The greenfin darter mostly lives in fast-flowing streams and rivers. These waters are usually found in the mountains of the upper Tennessee River area. You can find them in parts of North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Their home range stretches from the Holston and Watauga Rivers in the north. It goes south through the French Broad and Little Tennessee Rivers. Finally, it ends at the Hiwassee River.
What Greenfin Darters Eat and How They Live
Greenfin darters are insectivores, meaning they eat insects. They mainly feed on insect larvae found in cold, high-up creeks and rivers. Scientists have studied their diet. They found that greenfin darters eat many different kinds of insects. Some individual fish had up to 15 different insect species in their stomachs!
Predators of the Greenfin Darter
Larger freshwater fish often hunt greenfin darters. Examples include smallmouth bass and madtoms. Darters are an important food source for many fish in their habitat. Freshwater eels sometimes eat adult darters. Suckerfish like to eat their eggs.
Greenfin darters are quite common. They can even breed with other darter species where their living areas overlap. Like many darters, the greenfin darter has a special body shape. This shape helps them stay in place on the riverbed. They can do this even when the water is flowing very fast.
Life Cycle of the Greenfin Darter
Greenfin darters lay their eggs from late May to early August. The female fish buries herself in the riverbed. She chooses spots where the current is not too strong. She releases her eggs when a male arrives. The male might stay near the eggs for several hours, guarding them.
Greenfin darters grow very quickly. Young fish can reach about 45 millimeters (about 1.8 inches) in just one year. The average length for an adult is about 62 millimeters (about 2.4 inches). Some can grow as long as 110 millimeters (about 4.3 inches). They can live for up to five years. The greenfin darter is thought to be the largest species in its group of darters.
Environmental Status and Protection
The greenfin darter has not been fully checked by the IUCN. However, it is listed as threatened in the state of Georgia. Luckily, this species is found and protected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is also protected in the Southern Appalachian Biosphere reserve.
Greenfin darter populations can be harmed by several things. These include:
- Siltation: This is when too much dirt and mud get into the water.
- Water changes: Building dams or changing how fast the water flows.
- Agricultural runoff: This is pollution from farms, like fertilizers or pesticides.
A close relative of the greenfin darter has seen big drops in its population. This was due to human activities harming their environment. Climate change might also push greenfin darters into higher, smaller streams. This could lead to fewer fish. Because greenfin darters are an important food source for other fish, it's important to keep an eye on their populations in the future.
