| Snail darter | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percidae |
| Genus: | Percina |
| Species: | P. tanasi |
| Binomial name | |
| Percina tanasi Etnier, 1976 |
|
The snail darter (Percina tanasi) is a small (up to 9 cm long), rare fish found in the waters of East Tennessee. It is a variety of darter which feeds primarily on aquatic snails.
The snail darter was initially native only to the Little Tennessee River. It was discovered in 1973, and subsequently was at the center of a legal controversy in which construction of the Tellico Dam was delayed due to concerns that it would extirpate the species.[1] The snail darter was declared an endangered species in 1975 under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973; this halted construction of the dam for two years, until an amendment to the Act officially exempted Tellico. The snail darter was later introduced successfully to the Hiwassee River.[1] On July 5, 1984, its status was lowered to threatened.[2]