Vermilion Darter
CR

Vermilion Darter

Etheostoma chermocki

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermilion_darter

Overview

The vermilion darter is a 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 endemic to the southern United States, where it only is found in Turkey Creek in Jefferson County, Alabama, part of the Mobile Bay drainage basin. It was first described by Herbert Boschung in 1992, who was the curator of ichthyology at the University of Alabama, along with biologist Richard Mayden and scientific illustrator Joseph Tomelleri.

On December 7, 2010, the US Fish and Wildlife Service designated 13 mi (21 km) of Turkey Creek watershed as critical habitat for the darter. According to the IUCN, the population of this fish is declining.

Etheostoma chermocki faces severe threats from habitat degradation and water quality decline in its limited range within the Tennessee River system. Agricultural runoff, urban development, and sedimentation have significantly altered the clear, rocky-bottomed streams this darter requires for survival. Dam construction and water diversions have further fragmented populations and altered natural flow regimes essential for breeding.

Threat summary

Habitat

This darter inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams with rocky or gravel substrates in the Tennessee River drainage system. It requires well-oxygenated waters with minimal siltation and stable flow patterns for feeding and reproduction.

FRESHWATER· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionHabitat & natural process restoration

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Warrior DarterVU

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Vermilion Darter classified as Critically Endangered?
Vermilion 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. Etheostoma chermocki faces severe threats from habitat degradation and water quality decline in its limited range within the Tennessee River system. Agricultural runoff, urban development, and sedimentation have significantly altered the clear, rocky-bottomed streams this darter requires for survival. Dam construction and water diversions have further fragmented populations and altered natural flow regimes essential for breeding.
Where does Vermilion Darter live?
Vermilion Darter occurs in Türkiye, and 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 Vermilion Darter?
The main threats to Vermilion Darter are 1.1, 4.1, 9.3, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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