| Okaloosa darter | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percidae |
| Genus: | Etheostoma |
| Species: | E. okaloosae |
| Binomial name | |
| Etheostoma okaloosae Fowler, 1941 |
|
The Okaloosa darter (scientific name: Etheostoma okaloosae) is a fish indigenous to fresh-water streams and tributary systems in Okaloosa and Walton Counties in northwest Florida. It is a small and elongated fish, less than 50 millimeters in length.
Because of extensive habitat improvement and efforts by the Jackson Guard at Eglin Air Force Base, the US Fish & Wildlife Service downlisted the species from endangered to threatned status in 2011.[1]
All known habitats of the fish (tributaries of Rocky, Toms and Boggy Bayou) are presently being impacted by commercial development and/or road construction.
Collette, B.B., and R.W. Yerger. 1962. The American Percid Fishes of the Subgenus Villora. Tulane Stud. Zool. 9:213-230.
Jelks, H.L., and F. Jordan. 2010. Okaloosa darter research at Eglin Air Force Base.
Mettee, M.F., and E. Crittenden. 1979. A study of Etheostoma okaloosae (Fowler) and E. edwini (Hubbs and Cannon) in Northwestern Florida, 1975-78. Rep. to U.S. Fish and Wild. Serv., Atlanta, GA.
Ogilvie, V.E. 1980. Endangered Wildlife Project. E-1, Study I-J: Okaloosa darter investigation. Completion report, October 1, 1977-June 3O, 1980. Fla. Fresh Water Fish Comm., Tallahassee.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1981. Recovery Plan for the Okaloosa Darter (Etheostoma okaloosae). Prepared by the Okaloosa Darter Recovery Team for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta Georgia. 24 pp.
Yerger, R.W. 1978. Okaloosa Darter, pp. 2–4. In C.R. Gilbert (ed.). Rare and endangered biota of Florida. Vol. 4, Fishes. Univ. Press. Fla., Gainesville.