Variegate darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Variegate darter |
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The variegate darter (scientific name: Etheostoma variatum) is a type of ray-finned fish that lives in freshwater. It belongs to the darter group, which is part of the Percidae family. This family also includes popular fish like perches.
This fish is found mainly in the eastern United States. It lives in the Ohio River basin, in states like Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. A small number can also be found in Virginia.
Variegate darters are quite large for a darter, growing up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. They have bright orange-red colors with black stripes on their bodies. Their front dorsal fin also has horizontal stripes. These fish prefer fast-flowing parts of rivers with lots of rocks and gravel. Scientists believe this fish is not in danger, so its conservation status is "least concern".
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The variegate darter is a big fish for its family. It usually grows to be about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. It has many different markings and colors.
You can spot a red-orange band on its top fin (dorsal fin). Below that, there's a blue-green band, and then a red-brown band at the very edge of the fin. It also has red spots on its other fins.
This darter has large pectoral fins, which are like its "arms." These fins help the fish stay steady in the fast-moving water where it lives. It also has four to six dark markings, called saddles, along its back. Some of these saddles are very easy to see.
Where Does It Live?
The variegate darter lives in small and medium-sized rivers and streams. They especially like to live in riffles, which are shallow, fast-moving parts of a stream with rocky bottoms.
These darters prefer the fastest parts of the riffles. To survive, they need rivers and streams with very clean water. Because of this, finding variegate darters often means the water quality in that area is good.
Most variegate darters live in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. They are sometimes found in Virginia, but this is rare.
Behavior and Life
What Does It Eat?
The variegate darter eats small creatures found in the water. Its diet includes crustaceans (like tiny shrimp), insect larvae, and other small invertebrates (animals without backbones).
Reproduction
In early spring, usually from April to May, male variegate darters find and claim special areas for spawning. This is where they will lay their eggs.
After mating, the female fish lays her eggs in the riffles. She then buries the eggs with small pebbles to protect them. Once the eggs are buried, the parent fish leave them and do not care for them.
Status of the Variegate Darter
The number of variegate darters seems to be steady. It's a common fish with many groups living across a wide area. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at its population. They have decided that the variegate darter is a "least concern" species. This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
