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TABS Species Account TN00304 

TN00304    TANGERINE DARTER    PERCINA AURANTIACA

Tennessee Animal Biogeographic System TABS

version 12/2002


Taxonomy
Status
Distribution
Habitat Associations
Food Habits
Environmental Associations
Life History
Management Practices
References

Food Habits

TrophicReferences
CARNIVORE2670

LifestageFood Item ConsumedPart of Food Item
GeneralAnimalsLarva stage
GeneralInsectsLarva stage
GeneralEphemeropteraLarva stage
GeneralTrichopteraLarva stage
GeneralDipteraLarva stage
GeneralSee Comments on Food HabitsSee Comments
JuvenileSee Comments on Food HabitsSee Comments
AdultSee Comments on Food HabitsSee Comments
GeneralOdonataLarva stage
GeneralLepidopteraLarva stage
GeneralColeopteraLarva stage
GeneralSee Comments on Food HabitsNot Applicable
JuvenileCrustaceansNot Specified
JuvenileInsectsLarva stage
JuvenileEphemeropteraLarva stage
JuvenileTrichopteraLarva stage
JuvenileColeopteraLarva stage
JuvenileDipteraLarva stage
AdultAnimals
AdultInsectsLarva stage
AdultEphemeropteraLarva stage
AdultOdonataLarva stage
AdultTrichopteraLarva stage
AdultLepidopteraLarva stage
AdultColeopteraLarva stage
GeneralCOPEPODSAdult stage
GeneralOdonataLarva stage
GeneralColeopteraLarva stage
GeneralDipteraLarva stage
GeneralTrichopteraLarva stage
GeneralEphemeropteraLarva stage
GeneralLepidopteraLarva stage
GeneralDipteraPupa stage
ImportantCOPEPODSAdult stage
ImportantEphemeropteraLarva stage
ImportantDipteraPupa stage
ImportantTrichopteraLarva stage
ImportantDipteraLarva stage
LarvaCOPEPODSAdult stage
JuvenileEphemeropteraLarva stage
JuvenileTrichopteraLarva stage
JuvenileColeopteraLarva stage
JuvenileDipteraLarva stage
JuvenileDipteraPupa stage
AdultEphemeropteraLarva stage
AdultTrichopteraLarva stage
AdultLepidopteraLarva stage
AdultDipteraLarva stage
AdultSnailsAdult stage
AdultOdonataLarva stage
AdultColeopteraLarva stage
AdultDipteraPupa stage
AdultDipteraLarva stage

Comments on General Food Habits

This species typically picks immature insects from bottom rocks or from among clumps of riverweed (Podostemon ceratophyllum) *2670*. It is thought that the species is an opportunistic feeder, feeding on available immature insects without selection. It will typically forage by picking immature insects from substrate or riverweed, but also are reported to feed occassionally on drift and in areas disturbed by feeding the activity of Nocomis micropogon. The diet changes after the first winter of life and is thought due to changes in microhabitat utilized with increasing age and capability to handle larger food items *2670*. The primary dietary items are midges and mayflies for juveniles, caddisflies and mayflies for adults *PML57,4205*. CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SEEN TO MOVE GRAVELPARTICLES WITH THEIRSNOUT WHEN FEEDING AND SOMETIMES TO METHODICALLY REMOVEPEBBLES FROM CADDISFLY CASES UNTIL THE LARVAE WERE EXPOSED AND THEN EAT THEM *TN5002* ADULTS FEED HEAVILY ON IMMATURE INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH RIVERWEED (PODOSTEMUM CERATOPHYLLUM) *TN5018*

Comments on Adult Food Habits

The adults consume primarily caddisflies and mayflies *2670*. Adult fish fed relatively less on Ephemeroptera than did juveniles *2670*. MAYFLIES AND CADDISFLIES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCES *TN5144*

Comments on Juvenile Food Habits

Juveniles consume primarily midges and mayflies *2670*. Baetid mayflies and Dipterans were the major food items for juveniles, and caddisflies comprized a very low percentage of juvenile food. Beetle larvae were occassionally important food items. The stomach of one of the smallest available specimens (31.0 mm) had consumed Cladoceran and Cyclopoid copepods *2670*. MAYFLIES AND TRUE FLIES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD ITEMS*TN5144*

References/LifestageReference Numbers
General2670, 4205, TN5144
Adult2670
Juvenile2670


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