Sickle darter
📖 Overview
Adfults inhabit flowing pools over rocky, sandy or silty substrates in clear creeks or small rivers . They occur most often near woody debris, vegetation such as water willow, or large boulders . Spawning takes place in gravel shoals in later winter . Migratory behaviour is undetermined .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 2; Vertebrae: 44 - 45. Distinguished from all congeners, except Percina macrocephala, by having a sickle-shaped suborbital bar and a black bar subtending a medial black spot on the caudal-fin base. Differs from Percina macrocephala by having larger scales (usually 24-26 scales around the caudal peduncle vs. 27-31), 21-23 transverse scales (vs. 23-26), and 70-77 lateral scales (vs. 76-86). Has values for the combination of caudal peduncle, transverse and lateral scales and lateral scales usually 120-129 (vs. 128-141); has shorter snout on average; snout ranges from 20-28% of HL compared to 24-31 in Percina macrocephala .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sickle darter is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical North America: restricted to the upper Tennessee River drainage of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, USA.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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