Muscadine Darter

📖 Overview

Percina smithvanizi is a relatively common darter in undisturbed streams above the Fall Line in the Tallapoosa River. However, it has disappeared in disturbed streams and impoundments associated with mainstream dams on the Tallapoosa River. It has also disappeared from most of the headwaters of the Little Tallapoosa River in Georgia. The species was regarded as vulnerable by Freeman et al. (2005). Migratory behaviour is undetermined .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Percina smithvanizi is distinguished from all other described species of Percina by a combination of the following characteristics: absence of bright colors on body and fins of adults; no orange band in spinous dorsal fin; no broad vertical bands on body extending dorsally across the back joining those of the other side; 7–11 lateral blotches connected to form a continuous dark brown to black lateral stripe with undulating margins; lateral stripe continuous with large, somewhat quadrate basicaudal blotch, which extends onto base of caudal fin rays; a small dark blotch on upper and lower portion of caudal fin base, dorsal blotch typically darker; suborbital bar absent or very poorly developed; lateral line complete, typically no pored scales on base of caudal fin; males with row of modified scales on midline of belly and one or two modified scale between base of pelvic fins; modified breast scale absent; nuptial tubercles absent; anal fin of breeding males not excessively elongate; males without caudal keel as a ventral extension of the caudal peduncle; snout does not extend beyond anterior margin of upper jaw; broad premaxillary frenum present; serrae on margin of preopercle absent; branchiostegal membranes very narrowly joined to overlapping .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Muscadine Darter is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Muscadine Darter is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Muscadine Darter is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 1 m . Temperate; 34°N - 32°N, 87°W - 85°W North America: restricted to streams draining the region above the Fall Line in the Tallapoosa River system.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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