Naked sand darter facts for kids
The naked sand darter (Ammocrypta beanii) is a small, freshwater fish found in rivers and streams of the southeastern United States. It belongs to a group of fish called darters, which are part of the Percidae family. This family also includes well-known fish like perches.
Quick facts for kids Naked sand darter |
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What Does the Naked Sand Darter Look Like?
The naked sand darter is a small fish, usually about 4 to 5 centimeters (about 1.5 to 2 inches) long. The biggest ones can grow up to 6.4 centimeters (about 2.5 inches). It has a long, thin body.
This darter is special because it has very few scales. Most of its body is "naked," meaning it's smooth. It only has a few rows of scales near its side line and sometimes near its tail. When it's alive, it looks a bit see-through and has a yellowish color. Its gill cover (operculum) can look shiny. These colors help it blend in with its sandy home.
Its fins have darker bands, but the base and tips are whitish. Male darters that are ready to breed have a dark spot on the front of their top fin. Unlike some other darters, it does not have a sharp spine on its gill cover.
What Do Naked Sand Darters Eat?
Naked sand darters mostly eat tiny young fish that are still in their larval stage. They also munch on small crustaceans, like copepods, and sometimes even clam larvae. What they eat can depend on their size.
These darters eat throughout the day, but they stop feeding when it gets dark. They also eat less during the winter and summer months. Their appetite picks up before and after their breeding season.
Where Do Naked Sand Darters Live?
Naked sand darters love clean, freshwater rivers and streams. They prefer places with sandy bottoms. You can usually find them about 1 meter (about 3 feet) deep, right on the bottom. They often dig into the sand and wait for their food to swim by.
Where Can You Find Naked Sand Darters?
These darters live only along the Gulf of Mexico coast in the United States. You can find them in rivers and water systems from eastern Louisiana all the way to the Mobile Bay area in Alabama. Some have even been found as far north as West Tennessee.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding season for naked sand darters starts around March or April and lasts until September or October. This happens when the water temperature is between 17 and 29 degrees Celsius (about 63 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit).
During breeding season, male darters grow small bumps called tubercles on their anal and pelvic fins. These bumps help them when they are competing for females. A female darter can lay anywhere from 12 to 122 eggs at one time. They become old enough to reproduce after about one year. Naked sand darters usually live for about 24 to 30 months, which is about two to two and a half years.
How Was the Naked Sand Darter Discovered?
The naked sand darter was first officially described in 1877. An American fish scientist named David Starr Jordan was the one who described it. He found the first known specimen in the Natalbany River, near Tickfaw, Louisiana.
The name Ammocrypta, which is the genus name for this fish, comes from two Greek words. Ammos means "sand," and kryptos means "hidden." This makes sense because they hide in the sand! The specific name, beanii, was given to honor Tarleton H. Bean, who was the first person to collect this species.
