TN00017 WESTERN SAND DARTER AMMOCRYPTA AMMOCRYPTA CLARA
| Species ID | TN00017 |
| Name | DARTER, WESTERN SAND |
| Other Common Names | |
| Category | 01 Fish |
| Elcode | 05-24-88 |
| Phylum | CHORDATA |
| Subphylum | |
| Class | OSTEICHTHYES |
| Subclass | |
| Suborder | |
| Order | PERCIFORMES |
| Family | PERCIDAE |
| Genus | AMMOCRYPTA AMMOCRYPTA |
| Species | CLARA |
| Subspecies | |
| Authority | JORDAN & MEEK 1885 |
| Scientific Name | AMMOCRYPTA AMMOCRYPTA CLARA |
Comments
The western sand darter was described from Iowa in 1885 *9286*.
| Status Code | Status Translation | References |
| 202 | State Threatened | 4205 |
| 999 | See Comments | |
| 701 | Existing, FMP exists |
| County Name | Historical Occurrence | Resident Occurrence | General Occurrence | Seasonal Occurrence | Abundance |
| Claiborne | 2 | 2 | 2 | All Seasons | Low abundance |
| Hancock | 2 | 2 | All Seasons | Low abundance |
| Absent Within Counties | Unknown Within Counties |
Hydrologic Unit Code References TN5085, TN5087
| Quadrangle | Quadrangle Name |
| 3608356 | MIDDLESBORO SOUTH |
Quadrangle Distribution References TN5008 Latitude/Longitude 363227N 0833755W
| Ecoregion | Ecoregion Name |
Ecoregion Distribution References
| River Reach | River Reach Name |
| 0601020516,1 | CLINCH RIVER |
| 060102069,2 | POWELL RIVER |
| 060102069,1 | POWELL RIVER |
River Reach References
Distribution General Comments
General Distribution References
Habitat(s): AQUATIC
Comments on General Habitat
The western sand darter inhabits warm, low to moderate-gradient, medium to large rivers. It typically occupies sand and sand gravel. In Virginia it seems to occupy atypical substrate in the Clinch and Powell Rivers. In the Clinch two adults were taken in a large riffle-run area, with a surface current ca 0.5 m/sec, of mostly large gravel to medium rubble. Small patches of sand were found in the lee of boulders in the run, but the captured darters were taken at least 10 meters from the sand *4205*.
General Habitat References
4205
| Forest Size Class Association |
Forest Size Class Association References
| Society of American Forester's Type Associations | Seral Stage | Canopy Closure |
References on SAF Type Association
| Land Use/Land Cover Associations |
| Streams and Canals |
Land Use/Land Cover Association References
TN5017, 4205
| National Wetlands Inventory Associations | Class | Modifier | Special Modifier |
| Riverine, lower perennial | Unconsolidated bottom, sand | Nontidal, permanent | fresh |
| Riverine, upper perennial | Unconsolidated bottom, sand | Nontidal, permanent | fresh |
| Riverine | Streambed, cobble/gravel | Nontidal, permanent | fresh |
NWI Association References
TN5017, 4205
| Animal/Plant Associations |
Animal/Plant Association References
Habitat Evaluation Procedures Comments on HEP
HEP References
| Potential Natural Vegetation Associations |
PNV References
| USFS Associations |
USFS References
| Tennessee Habitat Associations | Habitat Value | Translation |
References on TENHAB Association
| Habitat Relationships | Special Habitat Relationships |
References on Habitat Relationships
Trophic| References | |
| CARNIVORE | TN5017 |
| Lifestage | Food Item Consumed | Part of Food Item |
| General | Insects | See Comments |
| General | Insects | See Comments |
| General | Insects | Not Specified |
Comments on General Food Habits
The dietary components of the western sand darter are mainly aquatic insects *4205,9286*.
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| General | TN5017, 4205 |
| Lifestage | Environmental Association |
| General | Substrate: Sand |
| General | Relation to Substrate: Occurs in substrate [penetrating] |
| General | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand |
| General | Flow: Medium streams [50-1000 cfs mean annual flow] |
| General | Flow: Large streams [1000-5000 cfs mean annual low] |
| General | Aquatic Features: Riffles |
| Limiting | Substrate: Sand |
| Limiting | Relation to Substrate: Occurs in substrate [penetrating] |
| Limiting | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand |
| Limiting | Flow: Medium streams [50-1000 cfs mean annual flow] |
| Limiting | Aquatic Features: Riffles |
| General | Relation to Substrate: Unattached - normally free living |
| General | Gradient: Low |
| General | Gradient: Moderate |
| Feeding Adult | Substrate: Rocks |
| Feeding Adult | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Gravel |
| Feeding Adult | Water Velocity [Instream Flow Group Increments]: 0.5-1.0 fps |
Comments on Limiting Environmental Associations
0
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| General | TN5017, 4205 |
| Limiting | TN5017 |
| Feeding Adult | 4205 |
Physical description: This is a pallid, very slender darter of medium size, with the adults usually 35-55 mm SL. The snout is moderately long and sharp; frenum absent; eye supralateral; branchiostegal membreanes slightly or moderately conjoined; opercular spine well developed; caudal fin slightly emarginate. The nupial male developes breeding tubercles on the pelvic anal and caudal fin rays. The male and female genital papilla are short, tubular, sometimes slightly ridged. The lateral line is complete, scales (71) 77-81 (84); dorsal spines (10) 11 (12); dorsal rays (10) 11; anal spines 1; anal rays 8-10; pectoral rays (12) 13. The cheek and opercle are usually partially scaled; body dorsum, to posterior end of the second dorsal, usually unscaled or with a few isolated scales; caudal penduncle variable, completely scaled in some. The belly and breast are unscaled. The body is deeply translucent, grayish. The cheek and opercle have a subtle blue-greeen iridenscense; the same iridenscense is less evident along the midlateral body *4205*. Reproduction: This species breeds in late June to early August in Iowa and Wisconsin. Williams (1975) indicated the height of spawning occurs in July and early August. Specimens from the upper Tennessee had begun tubercle developement, and tubercles were well developed by late June. A 17 June female appeared to be post-spawning *4205*. Spawning appears to occur communally. Apparent spawning activity was observed in high turbid water. A female woukd rush to the surface, closely followed by groups of males. Gametes were likely released during the ascent. The activity occured every few minutes from late afternoon to evening, and sounds of surface disturbance were heard after dark. Fertilized adheasive eggs were found at the site when water receded. Fecundity ranges from 82,300 to somewhat over 1,000,000 eggs *9286*. Behavior: This species is primarily an indiscriminant planktivore. The feeding paddlefish cruise open water with the lower jaw dropped. The incoming water is filtered across the gill rakers to strain out plankton and insects. They appear to feed both day and night. Prey selectivity is negligible. The presence of bryozoans, sand and detritus in the gut indicates that feeding also occurs just above (and sometimes on) the bottom. They select and capture individual food items, chiefly microcrustaceans and small insect larvae. This species consumes mostly aquatic insects. The western sand darter inhabits warm, low to moderate-gradient, medium to large rivers. It typically occupies sand and gravel. They will bury themselves in the sand with only the eyes and snout exposed *4205*. Limiting factors: Wisconsin fish live 3+ years and range from 51-66 mm TL in age-group 2. The largest Virginia specimen is 50 mm SL *4205*. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: ADULTS 1.8-2.3 INCHES TL, LATERAL LINE COMPLETE WITH 66-78 SCALES, 1 ANAL SPINE, 8-9 ANAL RAYS, PALE SLENDER WITHOUT PROMINENT MARKINGS EXCEPT FOR A SERIES OF DARK SPOTS ALONG BACK OTHER: BELIEVED TO SPAWN IN SPRING OR SUMMER, BURIES IN SAND.
| Life History |
References for Life History Codes
9286, 4205, TN5002, TN5017
Comments on Life History Codes
| Result | Management Action | ||
| Adverse | Channelization | ||
| Adverse | Dredging | ||
| Beneficial | Controlling sedimentation | ||
| Beneficial | Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical] | ||
| Adverse | Construction of navigational improvements [dams, locks, etc.] | ||
| Beneficial | Regulating harvest - setting size limits | ||
| Beneficial | Public education - publicity | ||
| Adverse | Regulating commercial harvest levels |
| References/Result | Reference Numbers |
| Adverse | TN5002, 4205 |
| Beneficial | TN5002 |
Comments on Management Practices
MAJOR THREAT IS MINING AND GRAVEL REMOVAL Their reletive distribution relates in part to extensive main river impoundment *4205*.
4205* Jenkins, R.E. 1984. Fishes of Virginia (tentative).. 9286* Virginia Dept. Game Inland Fisheries. 1988. Proceedings of symposium on species of special concern in Virginia. In Press,. TN5002* Eagar, D. and R.H. Hatcher, editors. 1980. Tennessee's rare wildlife Volume I: the vertebrates. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN. TN5008* Tennessee Natural Heritage Program Data Base. Tennessee Dept. of Conservation, Ecological Services Division, Nashville, TN. TN5017* Page, L.M., Handbook of darters. T.F.H. Publications, INC., Neptune City, NJ. 271p. TN5085* Starnes, W.C., D.A. Etnier, L.B. Starnes, and N.H. Douglas, 1977. Zoogeographic implications of the rediscovery of the percid genus Ammocrypta in the Tennessee River drainage. Copeia 1977: 783-786. TN5087* Saylor, C., 1983. Cumberland Conservation Project: Computer Printout of Fish Surveys. Tennessee Valley Authority.