Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Eupercaria
Ordo: Perciformes
Subordo: Percoidei
Superfamilia: Percoidea
Familia: Percidae
Subfamilia: Etheostomatinae
Genus: Percina
Species: Percina aurora
Name
Percina aurora Suttkus & Thompson in Suttkus, Thompson & Bart, 1994
References
Percina aurora – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Pearl darter
Percina aurora, the pearl darter 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 native to the United States, where it is known only from Louisiana and Mississippi, but seems no longer to be present in the Pearl River. Its total area of occupation is under 200 km2 (77 sq mi), it is a rare species and a candidate for federal protection. It is threatened by siltation, pollution, habitat destruction and urbanization, and as a result, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being "endangered".
Description
This fish was described as a species in 1994. It had previously been included in Percina copelandi.[1]
The pearl darter grows up to 57 (female) to 64 (male) millimeters long. It has a black spot at the base of the tail fin. The breeding male has a few dark bands. It is usually mature around one year of age.[2]
Distribution and habitat
This fish is now limited to the Pascagoula River drainage in Louisiana and Mississippi states in the United States. It has apparently been extirpated from the Pearl River.[2] The total range is about 200 square kilometers.[1]
This fish can be found in riffles and shallow, fast-moving river water. Higher river flows in the spring help to disperse the juveniles. Its favored habitat is unknown but its habitat requirements are likely similar to those of P. copelandi. This related species feeds on midges and small crustaceans.[2]
Threats to this species include pollution via runoff of fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and other materials. Sediment and silt degrade the habitat. Hurricane Katrina affected the local area, washing pollutants and salt water into the river. The release of dioxin into the Pascagoula system has been mitigated, but dioxin embedded in the substrate may be stirred up at times, entering the water. Riverside urbanization may lead to organic wastes being released into the water. Sand and gravel mining occur in the river system and destabilize the substrate. Habitat destruction has led to the species' populations being split and isolated, creating a disjunct distribution. This split makes it more likely that populations will become extirpated.[2]
References
NatureServe (2013). "Percina aurora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T184102A19032445. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T184102A19032445.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
USFWS. Species Assessment and Listing Priority Assignment Form. April 4, 2012.
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