Coal darter
The coal darter (Percina brevicauda) is a small species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in eastern Mobile Bay basin, Alabama. The species' stronghold is in the main channel of the Cahaba River, primarily above the Fall Line. It prefers gravel runs and riffles of small to medium-sized rivers. [1]
| Coal darter | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percidae |
| Genus: | Percina |
| Species: | P. brevicauda |
| Binomial name | |
| Percina brevicauda Suttkus & Bart, 1994 | |
The greatest threats to the species are the effects of pollution and urbanization. There are serious water quality problems during low water periods in the upper portion of the Cahaba River. The upper Cahaba River receives approximately half of its flow from waste water treatment plants and encompasses about 2/3 of the known range. Additionally, continued urbanization is resulting in increased siltation. Impoundments have fragmented the range.[2]
References
- NatureServe (2013). "Percina brevicauda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T202571A19033499. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202571A19033499.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- Suttkus, R. D.; B. A. Thompson & H. L. Bart, Jr. (1994). "Two new darters, Percina (Cottogaster), from the southeastern United States, with a review of the subgenus". Occasional Papers Tulane University Museum of Natural History (4): 1–46.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Percina brevicauda" in FishBase. January 2006 version.