Duskytail Darter
CR

Duskytail Darter

Etheostoma percnurum

Unknown

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Duskytail Darter faces severe threats from coal mining activities that have degraded water quality and altered stream flow patterns throughout its limited range in the Cumberland River system. Agricultural runoff and urban development have introduced sediments and pollutants that compromise the clear, fast-flowing waters this species requires. Dam construction and stream channelization have fragmented populations and eliminated critical spawning habitats.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Duskytail Darter inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams and small rivers with rocky or gravel substrates in the Cumberland River drainage system. It prefers riffle areas with moderate to swift current and requires high water quality with minimal sedimentation.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoverySpecies reintroduction

Other threatened species in PERCIDAE

Zingel asperEN

Zingel asper

Declining
CR

Vardar Streber

Zingel balcanicus

Unknown
Vermilion DarterCR

Vermilion Darter

Etheostoma chermocki

Declining
Diamond DarterCR

Diamond Darter

Crystallaria cincotta

Declining

Threatened in United States

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Duskytail Darter classified as Critically Endangered?
Duskytail Darter is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Duskytail Darter faces severe threats from coal mining activities that have degraded water quality and altered stream flow patterns throughout its limited range in the Cumberland River system. Agricultural runoff and urban development have introduced sediments and pollutants that compromise the clear, fast-flowing waters this species requires. Dam construction and stream channelization have fragmented populations and eliminated critical spawning habitats.
Where does Duskytail Darter live?
Duskytail Darter occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Duskytail Darter?
The main threats to Duskytail Darter are 3.2, 5.3, 9.3, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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