Vermilion darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vermilion darter |
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The vermilion darter (Etheostoma chermocki) is a small, colorful freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called darters. These fish are part of the same family as perches.
This special darter lives only in the southern United States. You can find it in just one place: Turkey Creek in Jefferson County, Alabama. This creek flows into Mobile Bay.
Scientists Herbert Boschung, Richard Mayden, and Joseph Tomelleri first described this fish in 1992. In 2010, the US Fish and Wildlife Service named about 13 miles (21 km) of Turkey Creek as a special protected home for the darter. Sadly, the number of vermilion darters is going down.
Contents
What Does the Vermilion Darter Look Like?
The vermilion darter gets its name from its bright red color. "Vermilion" means a vivid reddish-orange. This color is mostly on its belly.
- Adult male darters can have bluish lower fins.
- Females and young darters are more olive-yellow.
- They have eight darker stripes across their backs.
- Males have bigger red spots on their top fins than females.
These darters are quite small. They grow to be about 1.8 to 2.8 inches (4.5 to 7.1 cm) long. They also have a very short head. Vermilion darters can live for up to three years. This is longer than many other darter species, which usually live only about 1.5 years.
Where Does the Vermilion Darter Live?
This fish lives only in fresh water. The vermilion darter can be found in a small part of Turkey Creek. It also lives in the lower parts of two smaller streams that flow into Turkey Creek. All these places are in Jefferson County, Alabama.
The creek has a moderate flow of water. Its bottom is made of small rocks and gravel. You can also find many water plants growing there. These plants include pondweed, coontail, and water milfoil.
What Does the Vermilion Darter Eat?
It is hard to study what these endangered fish eat. However, scientists have looked at the stomach contents of some vermilion darters. They are "opportunistic" eaters. This means they eat many different things they find on the creek bottom.
Their most common foods are:
- Larvae (young forms) of midges
- Larvae of crane flies
- Larvae of caddisflies
Scientists have also found fish eggs and some water plants in their stomachs. Just like with most animals, bigger darters tend to eat bigger food items.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists have not done a lot of research on the vermilion darter's life cycle. However, they believe it is much like other darter species.
- Males have pale yellow testes.
- Females have orange or amber ovaries.
- The fish become ready to have babies when they are about one year old.
The breeding season for vermilion darters is from March to June. During this time, males do special dances to attract females. Females lay eggs, and they lay about 65 eggs each year. The parents do not take care of the eggs or babies.
The baby darters hatch from their eggs in about 6 to 8 days. They stay in the same area as the older fish. These darters do not travel far. They stay in their small home in Turkey Creek, Alabama.
