Halloween darter

Halloween darter
Conservation status
	; Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Percidae
Genus:	Percina
Species:	P. crypta
Binomial name
	Percina crypta; Freeman, Freeman & Burkhead, 2008

Last updated March 29, 2024

The Halloween darter (Percina crypta) is a small freshwater fish native to North America. It is found in Georgia and Alabama in the drainage basin of the Apalachicola River, specifically in the Flint River system and the Chattahoochee River system. It prefers shallow, fast-flowing areas with gravel bottoms in small and medium-sized rivers. It was first described in 2008, having not previously been distinguished from the Blackbanded darter (P. nigrofasciata), formerly thought to occur in the same watershed. Blackbanded darter has since been split again with Westfall's darter now recognised from the Apalachicola drainage. The species is somewhat variable, being generally blackish dorsally, with some individuals having indistinct saddle-like barring. Males have orange and dark lateral striping while females have dark stripes and a yellowish-green belly. At a maximum standard length of 101 mm (4 in), males are slightly larger than females, and both sexes develop distinctive orange barring on the edge of the first dorsal fin during the breeding season.

The Halloween darter has a limited range and a fragmented distribution. The main threat faced by the species is a deterioration in the quality of its habitat. It has been classified as a "vulnerable species" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It has been listed as "threatened" in Georgia by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and is protected in Alabama under the Nongame Species Regulation of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Taxonomy

The Halloween darter was described as a new species in 2008 by Mary C. Freeman, Byron J. Freeman, and Noel M. Burkhead. The holotype had been collected in 1994 by B. J. Freeman, J. Devivo, J. W. Garrett, M. J. Zieg, R. E. Jenkins, J. S. Boyce, L. M. Hartle, and M. Flood from the Chattahoochee River near Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia and Nora Mill Dam. The species name crypta is from the Greek root crypt, meaning "hidden" or "concealed". The authors chose this name to reference how the Halloween darter's existence as a separate species was concealed by its similar appearance to the blackbanded darter (P. nigrofasciata); prior to the Halloween darter's description, it was thought that the blackbanded darter was the only species of Percina found in the area of the Apalachicola River. blackbanded darter is now known not to be present in the system at all, after being split again, Percina westfalli is now known to be sympatric with P. crypta. The common name "Halloween darter" was chosen to allude to the orange and black breeding coloration of individuals, as these colors are associated with the Western holiday Halloween.^[2]

Based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, the Halloween darter and blackbanded darter form a clade with nine other members of Percina, identified as the subgenus Hadropterus. The other members of Hadropterus are the Guadalupe darter (P. apristis), the goldline darter (P. aurolineata), the dusky darter (P. sciera), the bronze darter (P. palmaris), the bridled darter (P. kusha), the muscadine darter (P. smithvanizi), the Bankhead darter (P. sipsi), the freckled darter (P. lenticula), and Westfall's darter (P. westfalli). The clade is a polytomy, however, meaning that clearer evolutionary relationships among members was not discernible based on the utilized methods.^[3] A 2018 study found no genetic distinction between the Halloween darter and Westfall's darter in the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers.^[4] The latter, described in 1942 from Florida,^[5] is sometimes considered a subspecies of the blackbanded darter.^[2]

Description

Halloween darters have terete (cylindrical or slightly tapering) bodies, with males longer than females. Males have a maximum standard length of 101 mm (4.0 in), while females have a maximum standard length of 85 mm (3.3 in). Males and females also vary in coloration. Males' heads range in color from a dark, bluish-gray to black, with specks of iridescent green or gold concentrated on their cheeks and opercles (protective coverings of the gills), though also present elsewhere on the head. Its eyes are darkly colored, and the preorbital bar (band of color on the preorbital, or in front of the eye sockets) is black. Both the chin and the lower jaw are bluish-black. Its sides are pale orange with blackish lateral stripes, which may be tinged with iridescent green. Its back is either black or, when possessing distinct saddles, amber or orange with black saddles.^[2]

Females have dark olive-black tops of the head, with snouts that are a similar color but paler. Females have variable coloration of the cheek and opercle. They can be medium olive-black with yellow crescent-shaped markings or instead with pale yellow stippling (small dots) or mottling. Similar to males, they have iridescent green or gold speckling, though the speckles are concentrated on the opercles or cleithrum (bone that extends from pectoral fin up to the cranium above the gills). Females' eyes are also dark, and their upper and lower jaws range in color from olive-black to pale yellow. Their abdomens are pale yellowish-green, and their bellies are tinted pink. They also have olive-black lateral stripes and dorsal saddles; the color between the dorsal saddles is amber to pale yellow.^[2]

The Halloween darter can be distinguished from other members of its genus by possessing all the following traits: the branchiostegal membranes (membranes that connect the branchiostegal rays, which support the gill membranes) are slightly connected; the edge of the preopercle (bone between cheek and gill membrane) is not serrated; it usually has seven saddle-shaped color bands on its back; and males and females in breeding coloration have yellowish-orange or orange bands near the edge of their first dorsal fins.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

The Halloween darter is endemic to the watershed of the Apalachicola River. This is formed from the confluence of two rivers, the Flint River and the Chattahoochee River. In the Flint River basin, the fish occurs both above and below the fall line, being present in several tributaries including Potato Creek, Lazer Creek, Muckalee Creek and Ichawaynochaway Creek. In the Chattahoochee River basin, it occurs above Lake Lanier in the Appalachian foothills of northeast Georgia, in the Chattahoochee itself, in the Chestatee River and the Sautee Creek. It is also present in the Uchee Creek, a tributary that joins the Chattahoochee River near the fall line in Alabama.^[1] This fish is typically found in fast-flowing sections of small and medium-sized rivers over bottoms composed of gravel, cobble or rock, often in areas where hornleaf riverweed (Podostemum ceratophyllum) grows.^[6]

Biology and ecology

It is insectivorous, consuming a variety of aquatic insects such as mayfly nymphs and larvae of midges, black flies, and caddisflies. Reproduction occurs in the spring, with spawning occurring in April and May, probably in fast-flowing riffle habitats. Females have a clutch size of 23–335 eggs; clutch size increases with female body size. Ripe egg cells are approximately 1.5 mm in diameter. Offspring hatch in June, with juveniles growing to more than half the maximum adult length by October. They reach sexual maturity at one year old. Lifespans likely do not exceed three years.^[6]

The Halloween darter is a host species for US federally endangered species of freshwater mussel, the gulf moccasinshell. This mussel releases larvae called glochidia that lodge in the gills of suitable fish to develop into juveniles. Of twenty-four fish species in seven families tested as possible hosts for the gulf moccasinshell's larvae, successful metamorphosis of the larvae only occurred in the Halloween darter and three other darter species.^[7] The Halloween darter is also considered a moderately successful host for the larvae of the purple bankclimber mussel, with a metamorphosis success rate of approximately 34%.^[8]

Status and threats

This fish has several separate populations, and a total area of occupancy of less than 2,000 km² (772 sq mi). The chief threat it faces is a deterioration in the quality of its habitat. It typically occurs in deep, fast-flowing sections of waterway, and damming of the rivers has altered the hydrological conditions and siltation.^[1] In the US state of Georgia, its four main populations are isolated from each other due to artificial reservoirs. If any of the four populations were to become extinct, recolonization could not occur naturally from any of the other three.^[6] Additionally, increased urbanization, water extraction and waste treatment are affecting the water quality of its habitat. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this fish as being "vulnerable".^[1]

In 2010, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service was petitioned by a coalition of environmental organizations (Alabama Rivers Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, Clinch Coalition, Dogwood Alliance, Gulf Restoration Network, Tennessee Forests Council, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and activists Tierra Curry and Noah Greenwald) to list 404 aquatic species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, including the Halloween darter. They included the Halloween darter based on the perceived threats of habitat destruction, as well as insufficient regulatory measures currently in place to protect the species.^[9] It is not included on the US Endangered Species Act as of 2019, and its listing status is under review.^[10] In Georgia, the Halloween darter is listed as a threatened species.^[6] In Alabama, it is protected under the Nongame Species Regulation of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This makes it illegal to capture, trade, or kill the fish without a permit.^[11]

Related Research Articles

Percina is a genus of small freshwater ray-finned fish, classified within the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches from North America. Along with similar fishes in certain other genera, members of Percina are commonly called "darters". More specifically, the genus as a whole is known as roughbelly darters, while certain species of Percina with a pattern of vertical bars on the flanks are called logperches.

Apalachicola Bay is an estuary and lagoon located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The Apalachicola Bay system also includes St. George Sound, St. Vincent Sound and East Bay, covering an area of about 208 square miles (540 km²). Four islands, St. Vincent Island to the west, Cape St. George Island and St. George Island to the south, and Dog Island to the east, separate the system from the Gulf of Mexico. Water exchange occurs through Indian Pass, West Pass, East Pass and the Duer Channel. The lagoon has been designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Apalachicola River is the largest source of freshwater to the estuary. Combined with the Chattahoochee River, Flint River, and Ochlockonee River they drain a watershed of over 20,000 square miles (50,000 km²) at a rate of 19,599 cubic feet per second according to the United States Geological Survey in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldline darter</span> Species of fish

The goldline darter is a small species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in the United States, primarily in the Cahaba River in central Alabama and the Coosa River in Georgia and Alabama. It is a small fish seldom exceeding 3 in (7.6 cm) in length. It is typically found in areas with moderate to swift currents and a water depth of over 2 ft (60 cm), in the main channels of free-flowing rivers with a rock, cobble or boulder base and aquatic plants. It has been federally listed as a threatened species since April 22, 1992, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being "vulnerable".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amber darter</span> Species of fish

The amber darter is a small, endangered species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to the Conasauga River and Etowah River in Georgia and Tennessee in the United States. It typically inhabits riffle areas over gravel and sand bottoms, hiding in aquatic vegetation when present. It feeds on small invertebrates and probably breeds between late fall and early spring. It is an uncommon fish with a small range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being "endangered".

The tangerine darter or river slick is a small species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in the eastern United States. It grows to a length of 4.3 to 7.1 inches, males being bright orange-red while females are yellow. It is insectivorous, picking insect larvae off aquatic plants and the riverbed, and sometimes rolling small stones over to expose prey. It breeds in late spring and early summer, typically in shallow sandy or gravelly riffles. Pollution and habitat degradation may be a problem in parts of its range, however it is a fairly common fish with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Percina burtoni, the blotchside logperch or blotchside darter, is a small, endangered species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the United States and classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

The Conasauga logperch is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the United States. It is one of 184 species of darters in North America. It has been listed as endangered throughout its range with critical habitat under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since August 5, 1985.

Medionidus penicillatus, the gulf moccasinshell, is a rare species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve mollusk is native to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in the United States, where it is in decline and has been extirpated from most of the rivers it once inhabited. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

The triangular kidneyshell is a species of freshwater mussel, in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It is endemic to Alabama in the United States, where it is known from several rivers and streams in the Mobile River Basin. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blenny darter</span> Species of fish

The blenny darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is a poorly known species which occurs in Alabama and Tennessee where it inhabits swift riffles.

The goldstripe darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the southeastern United States where it is found in Gulf Slope streams from the Colorado River drainage in Texas to the Flint River in Georgia, the Atlantic Slope in Ocmulgee River system, Georgia, and the Mississippi embayment north as far as southeastern Missouri and western Kentucky. It is typically found in small springs, streams, and creeks with aquatic and marginal vegetation and detritus. The female spawns on multiple occasions between about mid-March and June, sticking the adhesive eggs to plants, gravel and the sides of rocks. The goldstripe darter is a common species with a wide range and numerous sub-populations, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

The gulf darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky. It is a colorful fish, males having vertical barring of red-orange and blue-green near the tail, growing to a length of about 7.8 centimeters (3.1 in). It is typically found in small and medium-sized creeks, often in very shallow water. It occurs over sandy bottoms and among aquatic vegetation such as Sparganium americanum, foraging among the plants and organic debris for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

The gilt darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It can be found in a number of states in the Mississippi River drainage of the United States although it has been extirpated from some river systems in which it was at one time present, mostly due to siltation and pollution problems. Males are more colorful than females and can grow to a length of about 9 cm (3.5 in). It is a benthic fish that feeds primarily on small aquatic insect larvae. Males form territories during the breeding season in late spring and early summer. Spawning typically takes place at the upper ends of riffles with sandy and gravelly bottoms interspersed with larger cobbles. Some organisations are endeavouring to conserve populations of the gilt darter and re-introduce it to states where the fish has been extirpated but suitable habitat still exists.

The Mobile logperch is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in the Mobile River basin in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia in the southeastern United States. It inhabits clear shallow water and is often associated with Podostemum (riverweed). It grows to about 18 cm (7 in) and is distinguishable from other darters by the distinctive shape of its head and by its pale-yellow base color, with narrow bars on back and sides. It feeds on small invertebrates and breeds between February and May. Lake fish move into small streams to spawn. It is a common fish with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being of "least concern".

The blackbanded darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to the river systems of the southeastern United States where it is found in the states of Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. It lives over sandy or gravelly bottoms in smaller rivers and streams and its color varies depending on the different habitats in which it lives. It feeds on small insect larvae and is itself preyed on by larger fish. It spawns between February and June depending on locality. It is generally a common fish throughout most of its range.

The bronze darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is restricted to the Coosa and Tallapoosa River systems in Georgia, Alabama, and southeastern Tennessee in the United States. It feeds on insect larvae and other small invertebrates, and spawns in April and May. It is a common fish within its range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being of "least concern". However, it is susceptible to environmental disturbance and an ongoing management plan has been put in place to protect its habitat.

The saddleback darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to the eastern United States. This darter species is widespread, occurring from the Escambia River drainage west to the Mississippi River basin and as far north as the Wabash River historically. Some populations have been reported in the Tennessee River drainage. The saddleback darter is aptly named as it has 5 saddle-like patterns on its dorsum, with the first occurring near the first dorsal fin and the fifth near the caudal penduncle. Adults can attain a maximum size of about 3 inches or 7.8 centimeters. The saddleback darter typically occurs over sand and gravel runs of creeks and small to medium-sized rivers and is sometimes found in very shallow water. This darter's diet consists of invertebrates such as caddisfly larvae, beetles, mayflies, and stoneflies. The saddleback darter deposits eggs over sand and gravel shoals during the spring. This species has an average lifespan between 2 and 3 years.

The Cherokee darter is a rare species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to Georgia in the United States, where it is limited to the Etowah River system. It inhabits creeks with rocky bottoms and little silt, typically occurring just above and below riffles. It is a whitish or yellowish fish with green and black spots on the flanks and eight dark saddle-like bars dorsally. It has a small range and its habitat is being degraded and fragmented, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being endangered.

Percina roanoka, the Roanoke darter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to Virginia and North Carolina in the United States and is present in West Virginia, possibly from introduction. It is found in the Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse river systems, typically in small to medium size rivers. It is a colorful species with an average length of 4.3 centimeters (1.7 in). It feeds on insect larvae and other small invertebrates, and spawns in late May and June. It is a common fish with a very wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Percina westfalli, the Sooty-banded darter or Westfall's darter is a species of darter native to the Southeastern United States. A benthic fish, they typically inhabit streams and smaller rivers over sand or gravel bottoms where they are primarily insectivorous. The species is sympatric with P. crypta within the Apalachicola Basin.

References

1 2 3 4 NatureServe (2013). "Percina crypta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T202576A19032523. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202576A19032523.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 Freeman, Mary C.; Freeman, Byron J.; Burkhead, Noel M.; Straight, Carrie A. (2008). "A new species of Percina (Perciformes: Percidae) from the Apalachicola River drainage, southeastern United States". Zootaxa. 1963: 25–42. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.1963.1.2 .
↑ Near, Thomas J.; Bossu, Christen M.; Bradburd, Gideon S.; Carlson, Rose L.; Harrington, Richard C.; Hollingsworth, Phillip R.; Keck, Benjamin P.; Etnier, David A. (2011). "Phylogeny and Temporal Diversification of Darters (Percidae: Etheostomatinae)". Systematic Biology. 60 (5): 565–595. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syr052 . PMID 21775340.
↑ Hayes, Marjorie M.; Piller, Kyle R. (2018). "Patterns of diversification in a North American endemic fish, the Blackbanded Darter (Perciformes, Percidae)". Zoologica Scripta. 47 (4): 477–485. doi:10.1111/zsc.12288. S2CID 90629290.
↑ Fowler, H.W. (1942). "Descriptions of six new fresh-water fishes (Cyprinidae and Percidae) from the southeastern United States". Notulae Naturae (107): 1–11.
1 2 3 4 "Halloween darter" (PDF). Georgia Wildlife. Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
↑ Fritts, Andrea K.; Bringolf, Robert B. (2014-11-01). "Host Fishes for Four Federally Endangered Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin". Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation. 17 (2): 51. doi: 10.31931/fmbc.v17i2.2014.51-59 . ISSN 2472-2944.
↑ Fritts, Andrea K.; Fritts II, Mark W.; Peterson, Douglas L.; Fox, Dewayne A.; Bringolf, Robert B. (2012). "Critical linkage of imperiled species: Gulf Sturgeon as host for Purple Bankclimber mussels". Freshwater Science. 31 (4): 1223–1232. doi:10.1899/12-081.1. ISSN 2161-9549. S2CID 86326210 . Retrieved 2019-09-25.
↑ US Fish & Wildlife Service (27 September 2011). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Partial 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List 404 Species in the Southeastern United States as Endangered or Threatened With Critical Habitat (PDF). Federal Register (Report). Vol. 76. FWS–R4–ES–2011–004. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
↑ "Species Profile for Halloween darter (Percina crypta)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
↑ "Nongame Fishes Protected by Alabama Regulations". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . Retrieved 25 September 2019.

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[iucn_status_19_November_2021-1] 1 2 3 4 NatureServe (2013). "Percina crypta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T202576A19032523. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202576A19032523.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.

[Freeman-2] 1 2 3 4 5 Freeman, Mary C.; Freeman, Byron J.; Burkhead, Noel M.; Straight, Carrie A. (2008). "A new species of Percina (Perciformes: Percidae) from the Apalachicola River drainage, southeastern United States". Zootaxa. 1963: 25–42. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.1963.1.2 .

[3] Near, Thomas J.; Bossu, Christen M.; Bradburd, Gideon S.; Carlson, Rose L.; Harrington, Richard C.; Hollingsworth, Phillip R.; Keck, Benjamin P.; Etnier, David A. (2011). "Phylogeny and Temporal Diversification of Darters (Percidae: Etheostomatinae)". Systematic Biology. 60 (5): 565–595. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syr052 . PMID 21775340.

[4] Hayes, Marjorie M.; Piller, Kyle R. (2018). "Patterns of diversification in a North American endemic fish, the Blackbanded Darter (Perciformes, Percidae)". Zoologica Scripta. 47 (4): 477–485. doi:10.1111/zsc.12288. S2CID 90629290.

[5] Fowler, H.W. (1942). "Descriptions of six new fresh-water fishes (Cyprinidae and Percidae) from the southeastern United States". Notulae Naturae (107): 1–11.

[GA-6] 1 2 3 4 "Halloween darter" (PDF). Georgia Wildlife. Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2019.

[7] Fritts, Andrea K.; Bringolf, Robert B. (2014-11-01). "Host Fishes for Four Federally Endangered Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin". Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation. 17 (2): 51. doi: 10.31931/fmbc.v17i2.2014.51-59 . ISSN 2472-2944.

[8] Fritts, Andrea K.; Fritts II, Mark W.; Peterson, Douglas L.; Fox, Dewayne A.; Bringolf, Robert B. (2012). "Critical linkage of imperiled species: Gulf Sturgeon as host for Purple Bankclimber mussels". Freshwater Science. 31 (4): 1223–1232. doi:10.1899/12-081.1. ISSN 2161-9549. S2CID 86326210 . Retrieved 2019-09-25.

[9] US Fish & Wildlife Service (27 September 2011). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Partial 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List 404 Species in the Southeastern United States as Endangered or Threatened With Critical Habitat (PDF). Federal Register (Report). Vol. 76. FWS–R4–ES–2011–004. Retrieved 25 September 2019.

[10] "Species Profile for Halloween darter (Percina crypta)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 1 June 2023.

[11] "Nongame Fishes Protected by Alabama Regulations". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . Retrieved 25 September 2019.

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