Etheostoma vulneratum
| Wounded darter | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Percidae |
| Genus: | Etheostoma |
| Species: | E. vulneratum |
| Binomial name | |
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Etheostoma vulneratum (Cope, 1870) |
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| Synonyms | |
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The wounded darter (Etheostoma vulneratum) is a species of darter endemic to the eastern United States. Its range includes the upper Tennessee River drainage, western Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. Its typical habitat is among boulders or coarse rubble and cobble, often with overhanging ledges, in medium to large slow-moving rivers. It feeds on small insect larvae, especially midge larvae. Spawning occurs when the water warms up in late spring. Females deposit clutches of adhesive eggs on the underside of rock ledges or slabs, and the male guards the nest. The population trend of this fish seems to be decreasing slowly but it is a relatively common species with numerous sub-populations, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". The greatest threat comes from impoundment, and a management plan is in place, including captive breeding.
The wounded darter is a small percid fish characterized by a large caudal peduncle (like other members of subgenus Nothonotus), a terminal mouth, lines running the length of its body, a rounded caudal fin, eyes oriented nearly vertically, and olive coloration. Upon reaching sexual maturity, the male is dotted with small red spots with medial fins containing red blotching.
The wounded darter occurs throughout much of the upper Tennessee River drainage, north to far western Virginia. The westernmost extent of its distribution is White’s Creek, on the eastern slope of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, with its southeastern terminus of its distribution being the Little Tennessee River in North Carolina above Fontana Dam. The species is most abundant in reaches of the Little River in Blount County, Tennessee, as well as localities in the Little Tennessee River and the Clinch River above Norris Reservoir. Throughout the majority of its range, however, E. vulneratum is not as common. Surveys suggest this species is struggling throughout much of its range.
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