Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: DARTER, WESTERN SAND

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: PERCIDAE

Genus: AMMOCRYPTA

Species: CLARA

Taxonomic Authority: JORDAN and MEEK

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2S3
GLOBAL RANK G3

Status References: 004 , 011 , 013

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits quiet shallow margins of streams and ditches with sand bottoms."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 003 , 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in upper Mississippi river and in lowland ditches of the southeast *001*."

County Occurance

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

References for distribution: 003 , 008 , 010 , 001

Distribution by Watersheds

North Fabius R. and Middle Fabius R.
South Fabius R.
Miss. R. from Des Moines R. to MO. R.; and North R.
South Fork from Headwaters to North Fork
Salt R.
Meramec R.
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
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

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Glaciated Plains: Lincoln Hills
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
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, sand"

References for Aquatic Associations: 003 , 007 , 001

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

Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Larva stage
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 001

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)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: moderate current
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth: shallow
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 007 , 001

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 007 , 001

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding Adult niche requirements:

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: moderate current
Big river habitat: main channel border
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth: shallow
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fifth 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)

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

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: moderate current
Big river habitat: main channel border
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth: shallow
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fifth 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)

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

Niche Requirement Summary

Big river habitat: main channel border
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: moderate current
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Siltation specified in comments(00050)
Stream order: fifth 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: shallow
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
012 Spawning site information unavailable

Life History Information

Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging sites: water
Spawning site specified in comments(012)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
012 Spawning site information unavailable

References for life history: 003

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - control sedimentation

Beneficial Management References: 009

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. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
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 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).
009 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.
010 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
011 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
012 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.