Rush darter

Rush darter
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Genus: Etheostoma
Species: E. phytophilum
Binomial name
Etheostoma phytophilum
Bart & M. S. Taylor, 1999

The rush darter (Etheostoma phytophilum) is a rare species of fish in the perch family; it is endemic to Alabama in the United States, where it occurs in three river systems. It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States on August 9, 2011.[2]

This fish measures about 5 cm (2 in) in length. It is similar to its relative, the goldstripe darter (Etheostoma parvipinne), but with paler coloration.[2][3]

The rush darter lives in clear, shallow waters where it shelters around the root masses of aquatic vegetation. It tolerates a variety of substrates, including sand, silt, and gravel. The fry develop in wetland pools. Little else is known about the fish's lifecycle.[2]

This fish is currently known from three Alabama river drainages: the Clear Creek drainage in Winston County, some springs in Jefferson County, and Little Cove Creek drainage in Etowah County. Its total range is contained in 14.5 km of waterways.[2]

This species is threatened by the degradation of its habitat from excessive sedimentation.[2]

References

  1. NatureServe (2013). "Etheostoma phytophilum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 3.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 USFWS. Endangered Status for the Cumberland Darter, Rush Darter, Yellowcheek Darter, Chucky Madtom, and Laurel Dace: Final rule. Federal Register August 9, 2011.
  3. Bart, H. L. and M. S. Taylor. (1999). Systematic review of subgenus Fuscatelum of Etheostoma with description of a new species from the Upper Black Warrior river system, Alabama. Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 31 23-50.
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