Southern sand darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern sand darter |
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The southern sand darter (Ammocrypta meridiana) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called "darters." Darters are part of the Percidae family, which also includes well-known fish like perches. This fish lives in rivers that flow into Mobile Bay in the southeastern United States. You can find it in sandy parts of flowing water, from small streams to big rivers.
What Does It Look Like?
The southern sand darter is a close relative of the Eastern sand darter and the scaly sand darter. You can tell it apart from the scaly sand darter because it doesn't have dark stripes on its top fin (called the dorsal fin), bottom fin (called the anal fin), or tail fin (called the caudal fin). Also, the spots along its side (its lateral line) are stretched out horizontally.
Unlike the Eastern sand darter, the southern sand darter has more scales covering its body. The tip of its nose usually has some color. This fish can grow to be about 7.1 centimeters (about 2.8 inches) long, but most are around 7 centimeters (2.7 inches).
Where Does It Live?
The southern sand darter lives in rivers that flow into Mobile Bay. These rivers are found in the states of Alabama and Mississippi. You can find this fish throughout the Alabama River system, the Tombigbee River, the Black Warrior River, the Cahaba River, and the Tallapoosa River.
Habitat and Life Cycle
Southern sand darters live in medium to large streams and rivers. They prefer places with clean, sandy bottoms and a steady water flow. They are usually found in water that is between 15 and 150 centimeters (about 6 to 59 inches) deep.
These fish lay their eggs, a process called spawning, from early June to late July. They eat small creatures without backbones, which are called invertebrates.
About Its Name
The southern sand darter was first officially described in 1975. It was named by an American biologist named James D. Williams. He found the first one in Cedar Creek near Sardis, Alabama. This species is part of a group of darters in the Ammocrypta genus, along with the scaly sand darter and the eastern sand darter.
See also
In Spanish: Ammocrypta meridiana para niños
