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Leopard Darter
Percina pantherina
Family: Percidae
Description: The leopard darter grows to a maximum size of approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters). The general body shape is elongated and slightly compressed. In adults, the dorsal background color is pale olive; the ventral color is yellowish olive. Half-grown specimens are paler above and have white underparts. There is a distinctive lateral band consisting of 10 or 11 circular black spots rather broadly connected by a fainter black band
overlaid by an olive-yellowish hue.
Eleven to 13 dorsal blotches mark the back.
| Status: |
Federally Listed Threatened (January 27, 1978) Global Rank: G1 State Rank: S1 |
Distribution: Historically, the leopard darter was limited to upland stream habitats of the Little River drainage in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Currently, only scattered populations are found within its historic range. In Arkansas, the leopard darter occurs in the Cossatot, Mountain Fork, and Robinson Fork rivers in Howard, Polk, and Sevier Counties.
Habitat: Leopard darters are found in intermediate to larger streams. They are not typically found in smaller, headwater streams. From May to February, leopard darters prefer large, quiet pools with a rubble and boulder substrate. Spawning occurs on gravel substrates; however, the dominant riffle substrate may be gravel, rubble, boulder, and bedrock.
Diet: Small insect larvae.
Reproduction: Leopard darters typically live less than two years, but individuals older than three years have been found. Spawning occurs in March and April, but may occur as early as February, on gravel-bottomed riffles. The fertilized eggs are buried in gravel. The average clutch size is about 65 eggs. Young leopard darters begin to appear in May of each year.
Conservation Status: This species decline is attributed to habitat destruction and modification arising from the construction of reservoirs. The damming of rivers to create reservoirs eliminates crucial spawning and rearing habitat and isolates leopard populations above the dam. In terms of the latter, above-dam populations are prevented from breeding with below-dam populations, thereby resulting in a long-term decline in gene flow. In addition, above-dam populations are very susceptible to extirpation as their isolation prevents recolonization by below-dam populations. Darter populations downstream are impacted by the dam through changes in temperature, water quality, and composition of associated fish populations. The impoundment of Gillham Lake on the upper Cossatot River resulted in the reduction of this species already small range.
Lesser factors contributing to the species decline include siltation from agricultural operations, commercial gravel operations, industrial and municipal effluents, and road construction. A 1998 status survey for the leopard darter in Arkansas indicated that populations in the Cossatot and Robinson Fork rivers are tenuous and are highly vulnerable to extirpation. Protection of stream and stream-side habitat is critical for this species survival.
