Date:August 21st 3:19pm
Today's fish of the day is the redfin darter!
The redfin darter, scientific name Etheostoma whipplei, is a rare American fish. Found in and around the South Central United states, around ozark mountains. Particularly in the four interconnecting borders of Southeastern Kansas, Northeastern Oklahoma, Southwestern Missouri, and Northern Arkansas. These fish are found around sandy and rocky pools, in headwaters, creeks and small rivers. Known for hiding in and around aquatic vegetation. The species name of this fish, whipplei, is taken from Lieutenant Whipple, an American military engineer who described many plants and animals. The genus name, Etheostoma, can be split into etheo, meaning to strain, and stoma, meaning mouth.
Like many darters, the redfin is an insectivore, foraging for aquatic flies primarily. With this diet these fish can get to a length of a whooping 3 inches, although most will remain a little under 2, a pretty average size within the darter family. They can be identified by the bright coloration found on breeding males, however female and juvenile fish lack these bright reds and blues. Many other nearby darters share the same breeding coloration, so a better distinction would be made by the 12 distinct parr marks, an enlarged black scale above the pectoral fins, and a dark scale pattern above the head shaped similar to a spear.
The redfin darter, similar to many darters, spawn between February and May, with a majority of fish spawning in late April. Found only in areas of clean gravel, with highly oxygenated, non polluted waters. Causing quite an issue for these fish, as streams become more polluted in the area by dams, pesticides, construction, and farm waste. Females will carry clutches of 31-207 eggs in a year, the mature of which are only 1mm in size. Males will reach the bright spawning colors well before females do, as they will use this to court female partners with a dancing pattern, showing off the bright colorations on the fins.
Have a wonderful day, everybody!
