Source: Endangered and Threatened Species of the Southeastern United States (The Red Book) FWS Region 4 -- As of
1/95

                                       RELICT DARTER

                                     (Etheostoma chienense)

FAMILY: Percidae

STATUS: Endangered, Federal Register, December 27, 1993

DESCRIPTION: The relict darter, which is one of the 10 recognized species in the Etheostoma squamiceps complex of the
subgenus Catonotus, was described by Page et al. (1992). It is a small (6.3 centimeters or 2.5 inches) fish. The general body
coloration of females and nonbreeding males is typical of all members of the E. squamiceps complex and consists of brown
mottling on a light tan background. The dorsum coloration is variable, usually similar to the sides, but sometimes paler and
crossed by 6 to 8 small dark brown saddles. The venter is white and unmarked. The head has dark pre- and postorbital bars.

The most distinctive aspects of the relict darter are features of pigmentation and morphology of the dorsal fins of breeding
males. Morphologically, the species can be distinguished with certainty only by examination of breeding males. Bright breeding
colors do not develop. Breeding males are gray or dark brown on the dorsum and sides with light tan on the venter. The head
and nape are greatly swollen and black, and the dark coloration obscures the nonbreeding pattern. Territorial and spawning
males have alternating white and black bars on the side of the body. The first dorsal fin is black, except for a clear basal band,
and has a small white knob on the tip of each spine; a small, clear triangle behind each knob that narrows into a thin, clear
margin; and a small, clear teardrop posterior to each spine located two-thirds the distance from the base of the fin to its margin.
The caudal fin has a thin, clear margin and 5 to 9 dark bands alternating with an equal number of clear to yellow bands that
become increasingly wider and darker distally. The middle spot on the caudal fin base is darker than the other two fins. The
anal and pelvic fins are dusky to black with narrow, clear margins (Page et al. 1992).

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: There is no published information on the reproduction of the relict darter, but
Page (1974, 1980, 1983) provided information on other members of the E. squamiceps complex. Males and females mature
at 1 year of age at about 40 and 35 millimeters (1.6 and 1.4 inches) standard length, respectively, ut most males apparently do
not spawn until their second year. Spawning occurs from late March to early June. Eggs averaging about 1.8 millimeters (O.7
inches) are deposited on the undersides of submerged objects, usually flat stones. In the case of the relict darter, eggs are
attached frequently to the undersides of sticks or logs; other Catonotus spawn on the undersides of slab rocks (P. A. Ceas
and L. M. Page, Illinois Natural History Survey, personal communication, 1991). The female and male invert briefly during
egg-laying and then both return to an upright position. Several females may spawn with a single male and nests may contain as
many as 1500 eggs. The eggs are guarded by the male and incubation periods range from about 125 hours at 22 to 26 degrees
centigrade to 270 hours at 18 to 22 degrees centigrade (Page 1983).

RANGE AND POPULATION LEVEL: The relict darter is endemic to the Bayou du Chien system, a Mississippi River
tributary, in extreme western Kentucky (Warren and Burr 1991). Warren and Burr (1991) reviewed all known recent and
historical literature regarding the relict darter and surveyed known collection sites and potential habitat within the Bayou du
Chien watershed. They reviewed fish collection records from adjacent watersheds and also surveyed these areas for the relict
darter. Webb and Sisk (1975) indicated that this darter was "fairly common" in the high gradient reaches of Bayou du Chien in
the early 1970s. Warren and Burr (1991) speculated that in presettlement times the species was probably more widespread
within the Bayou du Chien watershed in areas upstram of the Mississippi floodplain (upstream of Moscow, Kentucky).
However, based on historic and current records, they reported that the fishhas only been documented from nine sites in Graves
and Hickman Counties.

Warren and Burr (1991 surveyed the system in 1991 and collected the species at five sites, but they found it abundant at only
two sites (18 individuals were collected at one site and 46 at another). The other three sites yielded a total of only eight relict
darters. They and other researchers have been able to locate only one spawning area in a small tributary stream located in
Graves County.

HABITAT: This fish occupies the same general habitat as most members of the E. squamiceps complex. Adults are
concentrated in headwaters and creeks in quiet to gently flowing pools, usually over gravel mixed with sand and under or near
cover such as fallen tree branches, undercut banks, or overhanging riparian vegetation (Warren and Burr 1991).

REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS: The most signicant factors in the relict darter's decline have likely been the poor
land use practices in the area, which contribute damaging silt to the creek, and canalization of the Bayou du Chien that has
significantly altered the darter's habitat. Improper pesticide use might also be a factor in the species' decline.

Warren and Burr (1991) noted that the Bayou du Chien system has been extensively channelized. Much of the streams'
sinuosity was eliminated, undercut banks were lost, stream bank vegetation and in-stream cover were removed, and some
smaller streams now flow only intermittently. This massive alteration of the relict darter's habitat reduced both relict darter
numbers and the amount of suitable habitat. Aside from past channelization impacts, the area is extensively farmed and much of
the watershed has been deforested. These alterations result in a fairly high silt load within the Bayou du Chien system that
continues to degrade the habitat and further impacts the species. Because the relict darter inhabits only short stream reaches, it
is vulnerable to extirpation from accidental, toxic chemical spills. This is especially true of the only known relict darter spawning
site. Additionally, because the relict darter population has been drastically reduced in size, the species long-term genetic viability
is questionable.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: To save the relict darter, all existing State and Federal legislation and regulations
must be enforced. Relict darter research needs include: life history information (spawning season and behavior, habitat
requirements, age and growth, and food habits); propagation and reintroduction techniques; and habitat improvement
techniques. Management needs include: reestablishing spawning subpopulations in other tributaries; promoting the safe use of
pesticides by local farmers; enforcing existing Federal and State laws relating to water quality, and monitoring the species
especially at spawning areas. Because suitable habitat has been reduced, especially spawning habitat, a program to improve
habitat is one of the most important management needs. Additionally, management is needed to restore some of the species'
habitat through repair of riparian habitat and control of nonpoint source pollution.

REFERENCES:

Page, L. M. 1974. The life history of the spottail darter, Etheostoma squamiceps, in Big Creek, Illinois, and Ferguson Creek,
Kentucky. I11. Natural History Survey Biol. Notes No. 89.

Page, L. M. 1990. Etheostoma squamiceps Jordan. spottail darter. Pp. 696 in Lee, D. S. et al. (eds). Atlas of North
American freshwater fishes. N.C. State Mus. Nat. Hist., Raleigh, NC.

Page, L. M. 1993. Handbook of darters. TFH Publications. Neptune City, NJ.

Page, L. M., P. A. Ceas, D. L. Swofford, and D. G. Buth. 1992. Evolutionary relationships with the Etheostoma squamiceps
complex (Percidae: subgenus Catonotus) with descriptions of five new species. Copeia 1992(3). pp. 615-646.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants: determination of endangered species
status for the relict darter. Federal Register 58(246):68480-68486.

Warren, M. L. 1991. Survey of the relict darter (Etheostoma (Catonotus) sp. cf E. neopterum). Final report submitted to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Asheville, NC. November 1991. 33 pp.

Webb, D. H., and M. E. Sisk. 1975. The fishes of west Kentucky. III. The fishes of Bayou de Chien. Trans. Ky. Acad. Sci.
36:63-7

For more information, please contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
330 Ridgefield Court
Asheville, North Carolina 28806

Telephone: 704/665-1195