Okaloosa darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Okaloosa darter |
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The Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called darters. These fish are part of the same family as perches. The Okaloosa darter lives only in freshwater streams and rivers. You can find it in Okaloosa and Walton Counties in northwest Florida.
What Does It Look Like?
The Okaloosa darter is a small, thin fish. It usually grows to about 4.3 centimeters (about 1.7 inches) long. The longest one ever found was 5.3 centimeters (about 2.1 inches).
This fish has a silvery brownish-green color. It has dark, uneven spots all over its body. You can also see lines of tiny dark spots running along its sides.
Where Does It Live?
The Okaloosa darter lives in only a few places. It is found in six small river systems in Florida. These rivers flow into the Choctawhatchee Bay. Most of its home, about 90%, is inside the Eglin Air Force Base.
These darters like shallow, clear creeks. They prefer places with sandy bottoms and lots of plants. The female fish lay their eggs on the creek bed. Unlike some other fish, the adult darters do not guard their eggs.
How Is It Doing?
For a while, the Okaloosa darter was an endangered species. This meant it was in danger of disappearing forever. But people worked hard to protect its home. The Jackson Guard at Eglin Air Force Base helped a lot.
Because of these efforts, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service changed its status in 2011. It is now considered a "threatened" species, which is better than endangered. The IUCN also says it is of "Least Concern". This means it is not currently at high risk.
However, some areas where the fish lives are still changing. New buildings and roads can affect its habitat.
See also
In Spanish: Etheostoma okaloosae para niños
