Kentucky arrow darter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kentucky arrow darter
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Percidae
Genus:	Etheostoma
Species:	E. spilotum
Binomial name
Etheostoma spilotum (C. H. Gilbert, 1887)
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The Kentucky arrow darter (Etheostoma spilotum) is a small, colorful freshwater fish. It's a type of darter, known for darting quickly along the bottom of streams. This fish is special because it lives only in a few streams in eastern Kentucky, United States. It's part of the same fish family as perches.

These darters can grow up to about 12 centimeters (almost 5 inches) long. They prefer to live in rocky parts of small rivers, creeks, and streams. You can often find them in pools or areas where the water flows slowly.

Where the Kentucky Arrow Darter Lives

The Kentucky arrow darter lives in upland creeks and streams. They are usually found in the very beginning parts of streams, called headwaters. Sometimes, younger and even adult darters can be found in slightly larger streams too.

These fish like water that moves slowly or at a medium speed. They prefer cool, calm pools or spots just above or below riffles (fast-moving, shallow parts of a stream). They avoid very fast currents. Their homes usually have bedrock, rubble, small rocks, and pebbles on the bottom. Sometimes, there are sandy spots mixed in too.

When it's time to lay eggs, the darters usually do so in riffles. The water is often about 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) deep. They might also lay eggs under or near rocks in faster-flowing parts of the stream.

Protecting the Kentucky Arrow Darter

Sadly, the places where Kentucky arrow darters live have been badly harmed. This is due to several human activities.

One big problem is water pollution from coal mining and gas exploration. These activities can put harmful things into the water. Removing plants and trees along the stream banks (called riparian vegetation) also hurts their habitat.

Other issues include changing the shape of streams, which is called channelization. Also, too much siltation (when dirt and mud settle in the water) comes from poor mining, logging, and farming practices. Cutting down too many trees in the areas around streams also causes problems.

All these activities can permanently change the water quality. For example, they can make the water too salty or add dissolved metals. These changes make the habitat unsuitable for the darters. Research shows that these fish cannot live in such polluted conditions. Because of this, they have disappeared from many streams where they once lived.

Good news! Organizations like Conservation Fisheries, Inc. (CFI) are working to help. They are teaming up with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. They have learned how to raise Kentucky arrow darters in special facilities. The goal is to release these fish back into streams where they used to live but are now gone.

They choose new homes for the darters carefully. The chosen streams must have good habitat conditions and some protection. This might be within a wildlife management area or a national forest. Scientists then watch the released fish to see if they survive and how they move. They do this by marking the fish and checking on them regularly.

For example, 110 young Kentucky arrow darters were released into Sugar Creek, Kentucky. This stream was once home to the darters, but they had disappeared. Now, the habitat in Sugar Creek is suitable again, offering hope for the species' return.