Watercress darter

The species can be found in the watercress zone of springs.

The Watercress darter lives in the benthopelagic, freshwater environment.

The Watercress darter is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The watercress darter is a small colorful fish which lives in the Black Warrior River drainage basin near Birmingham, Alabama. The largest known female is 2.5 inches in length. The species can be found in the watercress zone of springs. More

CHARACTERISTICS: The watercress darter is distinguishable from the Gulf darter, Etheostoma swaini, by having fewer pored scales in the lateral line and fewer dorsal spines and pectoral fin rays (Howell and Caldwell, 1965). More

The endangered watercress darter is found in only a handful of springs in central Alabama. More

Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge is a 25-acre (100,000 m2) National Wildlife Refuge located in Jefferson County, Alabama, within the city limits of Bessemer. Watercress Darter NWR consists of a . More

The watercress darter (Etheostoma nuchale) is a small, reddish fish with colorful fins which lives in the Black Warrior River drainage basin near Birmingham. More

The Watercress Darter Refuge is located in southwestern Bessemer at the corner of Division Street and Eastern Avenue. The seven acre site contains two small ponds which are two of only 4 remaining ponds forming the remaining habitat of this endangered small fish. More

* States/US Territories in which the Watercress darter is known to occur: Alabama * USFWS Refuges in which the Watercress darter is known to occur: WATERCRESS DARTER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE * More

Watercress Darter NWR, near Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama, was established by the Service in 1980 to provide protection for the endangered watercress darter. More

Local area map for Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge location (click here to zoom and navigate local map) State of Alabama map showing Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge location (click here to zoom and navigate regional map) View TOPO Maps! More

Watercress Darter National Wildlife RefugeSoutheast Region * Refuge Finder * Service Finder * Office Finder * Contact Finder * Home More

Percidae The watercress darter, Etheostoma nuchale, was first described by Howell and Caldwell in 1965 (01). It is a rather small (maximum SL=45 mm), robust darter of the subgenus Oligocephalus. It has a well developed frenum and a distinctly humped nape. More

Endangered Status The Watercress Darter is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as endangered Alabama, where it lives in Jefferson County. This fish is native to three spring systems, and has been successfully transplanted in a fourth. More

Federally listed as endangered, the watercress darter was first known only at one limestone spring in Jefferson County’s portion of the Black Warrior drainage. More

The watercress darter is a rare species of fish which lives in five springs around Jefferson County and nowhere else in the world. This rare fish is endemic to the Black Warrior River watershed. More

The watercress darter is a small, very colorful fish measuring up to 2.5 inches in length. The fish is currently found in only four sites in the upper Black Warrior River drainage near Birmingham, Alabama. More

The entire global distribution of the watercress darter consists of five limestone springs in Jefferson County, Alabama, making it one of the most critically imperiled fishes in North America. More

Common names

Brønkarsesmutte in Danish (dansk)
watercress darter in English
芥鏢鱸 in Mandarin Chinese
芥鏢鱸 in Unknown
芥镖鲈 in Mandarin Chinese
芥镖鲈 in Unknown

Order : Perciformes
Family : Percidae
Genus : Etheostoma
Species : Etheostoma nuchale
Authority : Howell and Caldwell, 1965