Kingdom Animalia Family Percidae Genus Etheostoma Order Perciformes | Class Actinopterygii Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Etheostoma, Rush darter, Yellowcheek darter, Relict darter, Duskytail darter | ||
Endangered cumberland darter fish species threatened by old strip job landslide
The Cumberland darter (Etheostoma susanae) is a rare species of fish in the perch family endemic to Kentucky and Tennessee in the United States, where it occurs in the upper Cumberland River tributaries above Cumberland Falls. It was federally listed as an endangered species in the US on August 9, 2011.
This fish measures over 5.5 cm in maximum length. It is pale yellow in color with six brown saddle-like markings on the sides. On the male, these markings fade during the breeding season and the fish becomes darker in color.
The Cumberland darter lives in pools and slower, shallower parts of streams, in areas with sand or silt substrates, and not in areas with rocky or cobbly substrates. Associated fish species include creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), northern hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans), stripetail darter (E. kennicotti), and Cumberland arrow darter (E. sagitta).
Little is known about the fish's lifecycle.
This fish is currently known from 13 streams feeding the Cumberland River. It has been extirpated from many areas it previously inhabited.
This species has been hatched and reared in captivity, then released into its natural habitat.