Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Fountain darter (Etheostoma fonticola), recorded as Endangered
Fountain darter (Etheostoma fonticola). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Fountain darter

Etheostoma fonticola

Fountain darter is a ray-finned fish in the family Percidae (order Perciformes) — Etheostoma fonticola, recorded as Endangered.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Etheostoma fonticola
Taxonomy
Perciformes · Percidae · Etheostoma

The ray-finned fish

It is generally smaller than 3 cm (1.2 in) long and feeds on small invertebrates.

Range and habitat

The fountain darter is known from only two locations, primarily the headwaters of the spring-fed San Marcos River, having been observed as far as 1.25 miles downstream, as well as the upper reaches of the Comal River in central Texas. Its geographic isolation is reflective of its incredibly specific habitation preferences, that demand conditions that can only be found in these two Texas river headwaters. The population in the Comal River was extirpated due to spring failure in the 1950s.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Breeding

It breeds all year round, and the eggs are deposited on dead leaves, stems, rocks, algae, or other objects.

In crisis

Fountain darter is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Fountain darter, Wikidata item Q3756372. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Duskytail darter

Etheostoma percnurum
Photograph of Vermilion darter (Etheostoma chermocki), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vermilion darter

Etheostoma chermocki
Photograph of Cherokee darter (Etheostoma scotti), recorded as EndangeredEN

Cherokee darter

Etheostoma scotti
Photograph of Bluemask darter (Etheostoma akatulo), recorded as EndangeredEN

Bluemask darter

Etheostoma akatulo

Quick answers

What is Fountain darter?
It is found in the headwaters of only two rivers in Texas, United States, the Comal River, and the San Marcos River.
What is the conservation status of Fountain darter?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Etheostoma fonticola. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Fountain darter live?
Its geographic isolation is reflective of its incredibly specific habitation preferences, that demand conditions that can only be found in these two Texas river headwaters.
Why is Fountain darter in crisis?
It is Endangered on Wikidata. Read the official Red List assessment for the criteria.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Etheostoma fonticola?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Fountain darter a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.