Longnose darter facts for kids
The longnose darter (Percina nasuta) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to the same family as perches. This fish is special because it is found only in the United States.
Quick facts for kids Longnose darter |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percidae |
| Genus: | Percina |
| Species: |
P. nasuta
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| Binomial name | |
| Percina nasuta (Bailey, 1941)
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| Synonyms | |
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Hadropterus nasutus Bailey, 1941 |
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Contents
What Does the Longnose Darter Look Like?
Longnose darters are mostly yellow. They have a stripe of dark spots along their sides. Their first top fin is mostly clear with a bright yellow stripe. There is a black spot at the base of their tail fin. The rays of their second top fin and tail fin have black and yellow stripes.
This fish is known for its long, pointed snout. This snout can be darker than the rest of its body. Longnose darters can grow up to about 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long.
Where Do Longnose Darters Live?
Longnose darters live in thirteen different streams. These streams are found in three river systems. They are located in the southern Missouri Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.
Their populations are spread out. They live in small groups in these streams. They seem to prefer living in higher, upland areas.
Home Sweet Home: Habitat and Life Cycle
These darters live only in upland streams. They like areas with clean gravel and large rocks. They use these spots for spawning, which is when they lay their eggs. In the fall, they move to slower parts of the stream. These areas usually have sand and silt.
Like most darters, they lay their eggs in clean, silt-free cracks. The male darter guards the nest. He stays with the eggs until they hatch.
What Do Longnose Darters Eat?
Scientists do not know much about what longnose darters eat. However, it is thought that adult darters eat small water bugs. These bugs include insect larvae and other tiny creatures.
What Dangers Do Longnose Darters Face?
Longnose darters need clean, rocky stream beds. Because of this, they are easily harmed by siltation. Siltation happens when too much dirt and mud wash into the water. This can cover the clean gravel they need.
Runoff is also a problem. Runoff is water that flows over land, picking up things like fertilizers and chemicals. These chemicals can change the water's pH (how acidic it is) or the amount of dissolved oxygen. Both of these changes can hurt the fish.
Building dams and reservoirs has also caused problems. These structures can separate populations of darters. This makes it harder for them to find mates and spread out. Some experts have suggested that the longnose darter should be listed as "Near Threatened." This is because their populations are so spread out. However, the IUCN currently lists them as a species of "Least Concern." In Oklahoma, longnose darters are listed as endangered. They are considered the rarest fish in that state.
 | William L. Dawson |
 | W. E. B. Du Bois |
 | Harry Belafonte |
