Longnose Darter
If you were poking around in a clear stream in the Ozark
region and saw a tiny fish with an elongated snout and
orange-yellow sides, this could be the find of a lifetime. This
two-and-a-half inch long fish called the longnose darter,
Percina nasuta, is one of Oklahoma's rarest species. It occurs
in very few streams such as the Poteau River and Lee Creek in
eastern Oklahoma and it prefers upland stream habitats that are
free of silt and plentiful in gravel and cobble beds.
The colorful longnose darter has a slender but short body with
an orange band and an overall dull yellowish color. In the
spring months of April and May, the darters move into the riffle
areas of the stream and get ready to spawn. After spawning, the
fish move out into the deeper pools of the cool water throughout
the summer.
Since the longnose darter is the state's only endangered fish
species, it faces many challenges. It is thought to be mostly
affected by the construction of impoundments and the alteration
of particular habitats. Impoundments alter the natural flow of
the river or stream and can drastically affect downstream
habitat. The streams where the darters reside are in poor and
declining condition therefore making it more difficult for this
fish to rebound. There is very little knowledge available on the
current status of longnose darters and it is listed in the
Oklahoma Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy as a Tier
I species of greatest conservation need. Current research
efforts are in process to further assess the needs of this
endangered but special species.