Redband darter facts for kids
The redband darter (Etheostoma luteovinctum) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called ray-finned fish, which means their fins are supported by bony rays. This fish is a type of darter, and darters are part of the Percidae family. This family also includes well-known fish like perches. The redband darter is special because it is endemic to Tennessee in the eastern United States. This means it is found naturally only in that state and nowhere else in the world!
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Where the Redband Darter Lives
The redband darter makes its home in central Tennessee. You can find it in rivers like the Stone's River and the Collins River, which are part of the larger Cumberland River system. It also lives in the Duck River, which flows into the Tennessee River.
What Kind of Home Does it Like?
Redband darters prefer shallow areas in rivers and streams. They like places with rocky bottoms, especially those with limestone bedrock, rubble, and gravel. These streams often have clear water and lots of aquatic plants like mosses, algae, and watercress. These plants help make the water a good place for the darter to live and find food.
What Does the Redband Darter Look Like?
This little fish can grow to be about 6.8 centimeters (about 2.7 inches) long, which is roughly the length of your finger. Most redband darters are a bit smaller, around 5.8 centimeters (about 2.3 inches). The name "redband darter" comes from the male fish during their breeding season. At this time, they get bright red bands along their sides and on their top fin, called the dorsal fin.
What Do Redband Darters Eat?
The redband darter mainly eats tiny insect larvae. Their favorite food is midge larvae, which are small, worm-like creatures that live in the water.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Redband darters usually lay their eggs in March and April. During this time, you can often find many of them in gravelly areas of the river, which are likely their special spawning spots. This is where the female fish lay their eggs and the male fish fertilize them.
Who Discovered the Redband Darter?
The redband darter was first officially described in 1887. Two American scientists, Charles Henry Gilbert (who studied fish) and Joseph Swain (a biologist), were the first to give it its scientific name. They found the first known examples of this fish in the Stones River near Nashville, Tennessee.
See also
In Spanish: Etheostoma luteovinctum para niños
