Kingdom Animalia Order Perciformes Genus Percina Higher classification Percina | Phylum Chordata Family Percidae Scientific name Percina burtoni Rank Species | |
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Similar Percina, Tangerine darter, Sharphead darter, Wounded darter, Roanoke logperch | ||
Percina burtoni, the blotchside logperch or blotchside darter, is a species of fish in the Percidae family. It is endemic to the United States and classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
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Taxonomy
The blotchside darter was formerly described as a subspecies of Percina caprodes.
Description
The blotchside darter is mostly covered with blotches on the midlateral row of the body. It has prepectoral scales and an orange submarginal band in the first dorsal fin. There are 15-18 dorsal spines, 14-15 dorsal rays, 14-15 pectoral rays, 2 anal spines, 10-12 anal rays, and 6 branchiostegal rays.
The species is olive in color dorsally, cream-colored ventrally, and has a lateral series of 8-10 dark green to black round or oval blotches. There is a distinct black spot at the base of the tail. The head is dark above and white below. In the first dorsal fin is a thin black margin. There is a thin orange submarginal band and a wide diffuse black basal band. The second dorsal and caudal fins have several narrow black bands; other fins are clear or yellow in color.
Distribution and habitat
The blotchside darter is endemic to the United States. It can occasionally be found in the Tennessee River system in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. Formerly occurred in the Cumberland River system in Kentucky and Tennessee and may still persist what is known as Little South Fork in Kentucky.
The species lives in swift streams and is usually found over gravel in water 0.5–1 m in depth. It has been observed in clear, moderately large streams in which a variety of fishes occur, indicating that it requires high water quality and ecosystem health. It appears intolerant of reservoir conditions.
Conservation
The blotchside darter is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It is known from several dozen localities, but total population size is unknown. It is likely to be detrimentally affected by siltation, turbidity, chemical pollution, and impoundment.