Waccamaw silverside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waccamaw silverside |
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The Waccamaw silverside (Menidia extensa) is a rare and special fish. It belongs to a group of fish called the Atherinopsidae family. This tiny, see-through fish is considered a threatened species in the United States. This means it needs our help to survive and thrive.
What Does It Look Like?
The Waccamaw silverside is a small fish, growing to about 2.5 inches long. It has a slim body and is almost transparent. You can see a shiny, silvery stripe running along each of its sides. Its body is flat from side to side, like a pancake. This fish also has large eyes and a jaw that points sharply upward.
Life Cycle
Waccamaw silversides lay their eggs from April through June. The best time for them to spawn is when the water temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Young fish, called larvae, form small groups by early May. Adult silversides do not take care of their young. Most of these fish live for about one year. They become old enough to have their own babies by the next spring. After spawning, most of the adult fish die. A few might live through a second winter.
Where Does It Live?
This special fish lives only in two places. It is found in Lake Waccamaw and the upper part of the Waccamaw River. Both of these places are located in Columbus County, North Carolina. The silverside only visits the upper Waccamaw River when the water levels are high. It does not live there all the time.
Lake Waccamaw is a natural lake owned by the State of North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Natural Resources helps manage and protect it. Scientists believe there are millions of Waccamaw silversides living in the lake.
Its Special Home
Lake Waccamaw is a large natural lake. It covers about 8,934 acres (about 36 square kilometers). The lake is not very deep, with an average depth of about 7.5 feet (about 2.3 meters).
Streams that flow into the lake often come from swamps. These swamp streams are usually acidic. However, Lake Waccamaw itself is almost neutral, which is unusual. This is because of a special rock formation called Waccamaw Limestone. This limestone is under the lake and helps balance the water's acidity.
The Waccamaw silverside likes to live in the open water of the lake. You can often find large groups of them near the surface. They prefer areas where the bottom of the lake is shallow and dark.
How It Behaves
Waccamaw silversides usually swim in large groups, called schools. They stay close to the water's surface in open areas. They prefer places where the lake bottom is dark and sandy.
These fish are often hunted by other animals. Even with many predators, their population stays strong. You might see them skipping or jumping over the water's surface. This behavior helps them escape from animals that are trying to catch them.
