Shield darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shield darter |
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Etheostoma peltatum Stauffer, 1864 |
The shield darter (scientific name: Percina peltata) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called darters. Darters are part of the perch family, which also includes fish like perches and pikeperches. The shield darter is special because it only lives in the eastern United States.
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What Does the Shield Darter Look Like?
The shield darter is a small fish. It usually grows to about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) long. The longest they get is about 3.5 inches (9 cm).
Its body is olive green to tan on its back. It has 6 to 7 black rectangle-shaped spots on its sides. These spots are often connected by a thin black line.
The fish also has 8 to 11 dark marks on its back, like saddles. These marks connect to the side spots with wavy brown lines. Near its tail fin, there is a black spot. It also has a big black teardrop shape on its head. At the bottom of its first back fin, there is a line of black crescent shapes.
Where Do Shield Darters Live?
Shield darters are found only in the eastern United States. They live in rivers and streams that flow into the Atlantic Ocean. You can find them from the Hudson River in New York down to the James River in Virginia.
Some shield darters have also moved to new areas. They are now found in the Rondout Creek and Hudson River areas of New York. They got there through the Delaware and Hudson Canal.
Habitat and Life Cycle
Shield darters like to live in medium-sized creeks. They prefer places with a strong current. The bottom of these creeks usually has gravel and small rocks.
These fish eat small creatures that live in the water. They also eat insects that fall into the water from the land.
How Shield Darters Reproduce
Shield darters lay their eggs over fine gravel. They like areas with some larger rocks nearby. This usually happens during the day, but it can also happen at night.
Spawning season starts in mid-April and lasts until May. Male darters choose a spot on the gravel. They pick areas behind larger rocks where fine gravel has settled.
Males protect their chosen spot from other males. They might chase other males away for several feet. The eggs are laid and buried in the gravel. The mating process usually lasts about 10 to 15 seconds.
How the Shield Darter Got Its Name
The shield darter was first officially described in 1864. A naturalist named Jacob Stauffer gave it the scientific name Etheostoma peltatum. He was from Pennsylvania. He found the fish in the Conestoga River, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
