Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: DARTER, CRYSTAL

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: PERCIDAE

Genus: CRYSTALLARIA

Species: ASPRELLA

Taxonomic Authority: (JORDAN)

Taxonomy References: 002 , 014

Status

NONGAME
STATE ENDANGERED
STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G3

Status References: 003 , 008 , 009 , 015

Habitat Summary

"Occur in streams and ditches with slow current, clear water, and sand or pebble bottom."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001 , 006

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Recent records are from the Gasconade and Black rivers. Historically occurred in the Gasconade, Meramec, Black, St. Francis and Little River systems *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BUTLER BOLLINGER ADAIR
DUNKLIN CAPE GIRARDEAU ANDREW
FRANKLIN CARTER ATCHISON
GASCONADE CRAWFORD AUDRAIN
JEFFERSON DENT BARRY
NEW MADRID IRON BARTON
OSAGE MADISON BATES
PEMISCOT MARIES BENTON
PHELPS MONTGOMERY BOONE
ST. LOUIS PULASKI BUCHANAN
STODDARD REYNOLDS CALDWELL
WAYNE RIPLEY CALLAWAY
SCOTT CAMDEN
ST. FRANCOIS CARROLL
STE. GENEVIEVE CASS
TEXAS CEDAR
WASHINGTON CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DOUGLAS
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
JACKSON
JASPER
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OZARK
PERRY
PETTIS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
VERNON
WARREN
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 006 , 007

Distribution by Watersheds

Meramec R.
Big R.
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Gasconade R. from Big Piney R. to Mo. R.
Black R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, cobble/gravel"
"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, sand"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 006

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Trichoptera (caddisflies); Larva stage
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Larva stage
Aquatic Insects; Larva stage

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 016

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: pebble
Gradient: low
Gradient: moderate
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 013

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: pebble
Gradient: low
Gradient: moderate
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Elevation 301-500'
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 012

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: pebble
Gradient: low
Gradient: moderate
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Elevation 301-500'
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 007

Niche Requirement Summary

Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: pebble
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Current velocity: slow current
Elevation 301-500'
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Gradient: low
Gradient: moderate
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Turbidity: clear water
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
018 Clutch size in AR study 105-570, averaged 195, was positively correlated with size of female *013*.
099 Life expectancy at least 2 years *013*.
022 Females mature at 50 mm, males at 61 mm *013*.
007 In AR spawn late January to mid-April *013*.
012 In AR spawned over gravel, cobble and patches of sand *013*.

Life History Information

Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)
Sex ratio: 1:1

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
018 Clutch size in AR study 105-570, averaged 195, was positively correlated with size of female *013*.
099 Life expectancy at least 2 years *013*.
022 Females mature at 50 mm, males at 61 mm *013*.
007 In AR spawn late January to mid-April *013*.
012 In AR spawned over gravel, cobble and patches of sand *013*.

References for life history: 001 , 006 , 013

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - control sedimentation
Water - develop/maintain streamside vegetation

Beneficial Management References: 010

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
007 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
008 Federal Register. Vol. 42. No. 251. 30 Dec., 1982.
009 Rare And Endangered Species Checklist Of Missouri. 1997. MO Dept. Of Conservation. Natural Heritage Database. 33 Pp.
010 Muncy, R.J., G.J. Atchison, R.V. Bulkley, B.W. Menzel, L.G. Perry and R.C. Summerfelt. 1979. Effects Of Suspended Solids And Sediments On Reproduction And - Eay Life Of Warmwater Fish: A Review. U.S. Epa, Corvalis Oregon. 101 Pp.
011 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
012 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Collection Records. Mo Dept Of Conservation, 1110 College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. 573-882-9880.
013 George, S.G., W.T. Slack and N.H. Douglas. 1996. Demography, Habitat, Reproduction And Sexual Dimorphism Of The Crystal Darter, Cyrstallaria Asprella (Jordan), From South-Central Arkansas. Copeia 1996(1):68-78.
014 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec.
015 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
016 Becker, G.C. 1983. Fishes Of Wisconsin. Univ. Of Wisconsin Press. Madison. 1052 Pp.