The bluestripe darter (Percina cymatotaenia) 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.

Bluestripe darter
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Genus: Percina
Species:
P. cymatotaenia
Binomial name
Percina cymatotaenia
(Gilbert & Meek, 1887)
Synonyms[2]

Etheostoma cymatotaenia Gilbert & Meek, 1887

This fish was an endangered species on the IUCN Red List in 1996. In a 2003 reevaluation it was downlisted to vulnerable status when the populations were determined to be mostly stable overall.[3]

Distribution and habitat

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The Bluestripe Darter is endemic to Missouri where it has a localized distribution in streams of the Osage and Gasconade systems of the northern Ozarks.[4]

The fish lives in small to medium-sized rivers where it strongly associates with aquatic vegetation.

Life Cycle

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The Bluestripe Darter is believed to spawn in March and early April. During spawning males become aggressive and will undergo a dramatic rapid color change during which usual middorsal and midlateral stripes fade and are replaced by a series of discrete, intensely black bars.[5] Most bluestripe darter are sexually mature in a year. Males and females grow at similar rates with a maximum lifespan of about four years.

References

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  1. ^ NatureServe (2013). "Percina cymatotaenia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T16588A19034397. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T16588A19034397.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Percina cymatotaenia". FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. ^ NatureServe (2013). "Percina cymatotaenia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T16588A19034397. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T16588A19034397.en. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  4. ^ Pflieger, William L. (1997). The fishes of Missouri (Rev. ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 1-887247-11-4.
  5. ^ Pflieger, William (1984). Distribution, status, and life history of the bluestripe darter, Percina cymatotaenia. Missouri Department of Conservation. p. 22.