Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: DARTER, RIVER

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: PERCIDAE

Genus: PERCINA

Species: SHUMARDI

Taxonomic Authority: (GIRARD)

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S3
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 004 , 010 , 013

Habitat Summary

"Usually found in deep chutes and riffles of permanent streams with moderate to swift current and gravel bottoms."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001 , 003

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in Mississippi river and larger ditches and streams of the lowlands *001*."

County Occurance

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

References for distribution: 001 , 003 , 009

Distribution by Watersheds

Wyaconda R.
North Fabius R. and Middle Fabius R.
South Fabius R.
Miss. R. from Des Moines R. to MO. R.; and North R.
Meramec R.
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Miss R. from Ohio R. to Arkansas Border
St. John's Ditch and Blue Ditch
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Black R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, 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

Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
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"
"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, cobble/gravel"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 003 , 007 , 008

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 005

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

Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Egg stage
Trichoptera (caddisflies); Larva stage
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Larva stage
Ephemeroptera (mayflies); Larva stage
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
Branchiopods (Daphnia, Cladocera); Not Specified
Copepods (Cyclops, Calanus); Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 008

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 specified in comments(00040)
Bottom type: gravel
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Inland wetlands: permanent stream

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Bottom type: gravel
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Big river habitat: main channel
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008 , 009 , 012

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Bottom type: gravel
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Big river habitat: main channel
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008 , 009

Niche Requirement Summary

Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Big river habitat: main channel
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Bottom type: gravel
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 In IL spawn April to May *008*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable

Life History Information

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)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 In IL spawn April to May *008*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable

References for life history: 001 , 003 , 008

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Beneficial Management References:

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 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
004 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
005 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
006 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
007 Cross, F.B. 1967. Handbook Of Fishes Of Kansas. Univ. Ks Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 45. 357 Pp.
008 Thomas, D.L. 1970. An Ecological Study Of Four Darters Of The Genus Percina (Percidae) In The Kaskaskia River, Illinois. IL Nat. Hist. Surv. Biol. Notes No. 70:1-18.
009 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
010 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 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 Tibbs, J.E. 1995. Habitat Use By Small Fishes In The Lower Mississippi River Related To Foraging By Least Terns (Sterna Altillarum). M.S. Thesis, Univ. Of Missouri-Columbia. 184 Pp.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.