Swannanoa darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swannanoa darter |
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The Swannanoa darter (Etheostoma swannanoa) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called darters. These fish are part of the Percidae family, which also includes perches.
This darter lives only in the eastern United States. You can find it in the rivers that flow into the Tennessee River. It likes cool, clear mountain streams. It often swims in fast-flowing areas called riffles, where the stream bed is rocky.
Scientists haven't studied the Swannanoa darter's daily life much. But they think it's similar to its close cousin, the greenside darter. The number of Swannanoa darters seems to be steady. It's a common fish in its home area. Because of this, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature says it's a species of "least concern". This means it's not currently in danger.
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Where Does It Live?
The Swannanoa darter lives in a fairly small area. You can find it in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Specifically, it lives in the upper parts of the Tennessee River system. This includes parts of East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina.
It lives in rivers like the Clinch, Powell, Holston, and French Broad. These rivers are near the borders of Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. This fish loves cold, clear water. It especially likes places with lots of large rocks on the river bottom.
What Does It Eat?
The Swannanoa darter prefers clear, cool mountain streams. It likes to live in areas with fast-moving water and rocky bottoms.
Its close relative, the greenside darter, helps us understand what the Swannanoa darter might eat. Young greenside darters mostly eat tiny insects like midge larvae. They also eat very small crustaceans, which are like tiny water bugs.
Adult darters have a more varied diet. They mainly eat mayflies and caddisflies. They also enjoy other aquatic insect larvae, such as midge and black fly larvae. In some places, like the Little River in Tennessee, adult darters also eat snails.
Darters eat less in winter. They eat the most in May and June. Young darters are not often found with adults in summer or early fall. This might mean that young darters live in different parts of the stream than adult darters.
Pollution from mining and dams on rivers might have caused the number of Swannanoa darters to go down in some areas.
Life Cycle of the Swannanoa Darter
We don't know a lot about the full life cycle of the Swannanoa darter. But we do know some things.
They usually breed in early spring. One time, they were seen breeding on April 2nd. Greenside darters also breed in early spring. This happens when the water temperature reaches about 50-53 degrees Fahrenheit. Swannanoa darters likely breed around the same time.
They lay their eggs on different surfaces. These can include plants, sand, or rocks. Most Swannanoa darters become old enough to breed when they are about one year old. They grow quickly. After their first year, they can be about 45 millimeters long. Adult darters can grow up to 90 millimeters long.
Greenside darters, which are very similar, usually live for about five years. Swannanoa darters likely have a similar lifespan.
Protecting the Swannanoa Darter
Currently, there isn't much special effort to manage or protect the Swannanoa darter. However, many of the streams where they live are managed for trout. Trout are popular for fishing and bring money to the area. This management for trout also helps the darters.
Much of the Swannanoa darter's home is in protected areas. These include national forests and parks. But some activities can still harm them. Anything that adds too much dirt to the water or reduces water flow can be bad. This includes logging, mining, building new things, and building dams.
In lower areas and larger rivers, pollution can also be a problem for these fish. Using "streamside management zones" is a great way to help. These are special areas along streams that protect water quality. This helps the darters too.
It would also be helpful to check the water quality regularly. This means looking at water chemistry, temperature, and how much oxygen is in the water. This helps us understand if the water is healthy for the fish. Since we don't know everything about the Swannanoa darter, more research is needed. This research would help us understand what specific things these fish need to thrive.
Images for kids
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A Swannanoa darter in its natural habitat.
See also
In Spanish: Etheostoma swannanoa para niños
