Kingdom Animalia Class Actinopterygii Family Percidae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Perciformes Genus Etheostoma | |
Similar Coosa darter, Blenny darter, Headwater darter | ||
The cherry darter (Etheostoma etnieri) is a ray-finned fish in the perch family, Percidae. It is only found in the upper Caney Fork system of the Cumberland River drainage in the U.S. state of Tennessee.
Contents
Appearance and anatomy
The largest males have a standard length of 63.7 mm (2.51 in) and the largest females 54.7 mm (2.15 in).
Distribution
The cherry darter is endemic to the upper Caney Fork system of the Cumberland River drainage, central Tennessee. The species is limited to streams flowing over limestones of the Mississippian Eastern Highland Rim. They do not occur in cool, slightly acidic headwaters or in the lower portion of Caney Fork River system. The range includes White, Putnam, Warren, Van Buren, and Grundy Counties.
Ecology
Cherry darters feed primarily on aquatic invertebrates and insects, and are known to inhabit a wide range of habitats from springs and small creeks to large rivers. This species has a preference for small- to medium-sized creeks or streams and is usually collected in riffles and runs of moderate to low turbulence, especially over a gravel substrate. In larger streams and rivers, the species is typically found along the margins.
Life history
Cherry darter spawning peaks in April and early May, and they reach sexual maturity at the age of two. The cherry darter has not been studied extensively, so little else is known of its life history.
Status
Currently, no management plan is in place for this species. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency evaluated the cherry darter in 2001 and deemed it stable and not a great conservation need for the agency. Although this fish is present only within a restricted range, it is common in some parts of that range and no evidence indicates populations in general are dwindling or it is in immediate danger of extinction. For these reasons, the IUCN lists this species as being of "Least Concern". The major potential threat is habitat degradation due to chemical runoff from agriculture, siltation, and in some cases effluent from mining.