Yazoo darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yazoo darter |
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The Yazoo darter (Etheostoma raneyi) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called darters. These fish are part of the same family as perches. The Yazoo darter lives only in a specific area of north-central Mississippi in the United States. You can find it in the streams that flow into the Little Tallahatchie River.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Yazoo darters are small fish. They can grow up to about 2.5 inches (65 millimeters) long. Male darters are a bit bigger than females. When it's time to breed, the male darters show off bright colors.
Where Does It Live?
The Yazoo darter lives in small, clear streams. These streams often get their water from springs. The bottom of their homes can be made of clay, sand, gravel, or soft mud.
You can find these fish in the streams that feed into the Little Tallahatchie River. This area includes parts of several counties in Mississippi: Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Tate, Tippah, and Union. Some of their habitat is also within the Holly Springs National Forest.
A New Discovery
For a while, scientists thought darters in the nearby Yocona River were also Yazoo darters. But in 2020, after looking closely at their DNA and body shapes, they found out something new! The darters in the Yocona River are actually a different species. They were named E. faulkneri. So, the true Yazoo darter lives only in the Little Tallahatchie River area.
Life and Habits
Most Yazoo darters do not live very long. Many of them only survive for about one year. Very few live for more than two years. These fish mostly eat small insects they find in the water.
Why Is It Important?
The Yazoo darter is a special part of its ecosystem. It helps keep the stream healthy by eating insects. It also serves as food for other animals.
Is It in Danger?
Sadly, the number of Yazoo darters is going down. Their homes are being affected by human activities.
- Stream changes: Sometimes, streams are changed by people. This can include making them straighter or building things like culverts (tunnels for water). These changes make it harder for the darters to live and move around.
- City growth: As towns and cities grow, more land is developed. This can lead to pollution or changes in the streams where the darters live.
Because of these problems, the Yazoo darter is listed as "near-threatened." This means it could become endangered if its habitat continues to be harmed. Many groups are working to protect this unique fish.
How Was It Named?
Scientists Royal Dallas Suttkus and Henry L. Bart first officially described the Yazoo darter in 1994. They found the first known examples in Hurricane Creek. This creek flows into the Tallahatchie River in Lafayette County, Mississippi.
The fish's scientific name, raneyi, honors a famous American fish scientist. His name was Edward C. Raney. He lived from 1909 to 1984 and worked at Cornell University.
See also
In Spanish: Etheostoma raneyi para niños
