Roanoke logperch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roanoke logperch |
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The Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) is a special type of freshwater fish. It's a darter, which is a small fish known for darting around. This fish belongs to the same family as perches. You can find the Roanoke logperch in rivers like the Roanoke and Chowan in Virginia and North Carolina, United States. It likes clear, warm water in rivers and streams, especially where there's gravel and rocks. This fish mainly eats insects. The Roanoke logperch is considered an endangered species, meaning it needs protection.
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What Does the Roanoke Logperch Look Like?
As an adult, the Roanoke logperch is about 80 to 115 millimeters (3 to 4.5 inches) long. Its total length can reach up to 140 millimeters (5.5 inches). This fish has a light-colored body that is a bit thick and long. It has dark, rounded spots on its sides that go up and down.
The Roanoke logperch has a long, cone-shaped nose. The tip of its nose is a bit blunt. It has two fins on its back, called dorsal fins. These fins are very tall on adult male fish. The first dorsal fin has a bright orange stripe. This orange stripe has black stripes on both sides of it. The end of its tail fin is almost straight. All its fins have dark black or brown marks. The fish's large eyes are located near the top of its head. Its upper jaw is longer than its lower jaw.
Where Does the Roanoke Logperch Live?
The Roanoke logperch is found only in the upper parts of certain river systems. These include the Roanoke, Dan, and Chowan rivers. Most of these rivers are in Virginia. There is also a small group of these fish in North Carolina.
This fish prefers slow-moving, warm rivers and streams. It likes areas with gravel and large rocks. You can find them in shallow, fast-moving parts of the river called riffles. They also live in deeper, calmer areas called pools. The bottom of these areas is usually sandy, stony, or covered with boulders.
Life Cycle and Habits
Roanoke logperch become ready to have babies when they are about two to three years old. They lay their eggs from mid-April to early May. This happens when the water temperature is about 12 to 14 degrees Celsius (54 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit). Each female fish can lay between 200 and 650 eggs. The eggs are sticky and attach to the bottom of the stream or pool.
The Roanoke logperch uses its special cone-shaped nose to flip over gravel and rocks. This helps it find small insects and other creatures hiding underneath. This way, it can eat prey that other fish might not be able to reach. However, this feeding method only works if the rocks and gravel are loose. If the water is very clear and not muddy, it's a good sign for the Roanoke logperch. This fish can show how clean a river or lake is.
Protecting the Roanoke Logperch
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the Roanoke logperch is a "vulnerable" species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. The main dangers it faces come from human activities. These include cities growing bigger and building dams on rivers. Dams can cause mud and dirt to build up in the water. Pollution from factories and farms also harms the fish.
Even with these threats, the number of Roanoke logperch seems to be stable. In some areas, like the Pigg River, their population might even be growing a little.
