Arrow darter

📖 Overview

Inhabits rocky riffles and pools of headwaters, creeks and small rivers . Feeds on mayfly nymphs (heptageniids, baetids), blackfly and midge larvae, and lesser numbers of caddisfly, stonefly, and beetle larvae .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Distinguished by having the following characters: body long and slender; snout long and pointed; caudal fin base with 2 black spots partially fused into short bar; straw colored to olive above, 6-9 brown saddles; 7-9 large green Us alternate with orange bars (faint on female) along side; yellow below. Breeding males with bright orange bars on side, red-orange edge on 1st dorsal fin, bands of red -orange spots on 2nd dorsal and caudal fins, blue-green anal and pelvic fins. Lateral line usually incomplete, with 55-69 lateral scales, usually 63 or more; and 49-66 pored lateral-line scales, usually more than 52 .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Arrow darter is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Arrow darters usually feed on insect larvae, such as blackflies, caddisfly, and beetles. They also frequently feed on mayflies and midges. If the darter is greater than 2.8 inches (7.1 cm), they often feed on small crayfish.

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical; 38°N - 36°N North America: upper Cumberland River drainage in Kentucky and Tennessee, USA.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

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