Eastern Sand Darter
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Name and Code
Family
Percidae - perches and darters
Species
Ammocrypta pellucida
Taxonomic Authority
(Putnam 1863)
Common Name(s)
Eastern Sand Darter
French Name
dard de sable
Species Code
335
Family TSN
168356
Parent TSN
168511
Species TSN
168517
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G4 (2011-10-19)
National Rank (NRank)
N2 (2017-08-19)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
S2 (2009-03-23)
COSEWIC Status
Threatened1,2 (May 2022)
SARO Status
Endangered (2009)
AFS Status
Vulnerable (1)
Status Notes
(1) Southwestern Ontario population; (2) West Lake population
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
native
General Abundance
rare
Tolerance
intolerant
Economic Importance
none
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-5.0639
Slope (b)
2.87
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthic
Trophic Class
invertivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
sandy bottoms of large creeks and small to medium rivers in moderate current, and sandy shoals of lakes at depths of 5-15 m; preferred water temperature range 24-25.5°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Psammophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
riverine
Spawning Season
summer
Spawning Month(s)
June-July
Spawning Temperature (°C)
17-25.5
Fecundity
22-829
Nursery Habitat(s)
riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
4.6-7.1 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.0005-0.0020
Age at Maturity (yrs)
1 (m); 1-2 (f)
Maximum Length (cm)
8.4 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
no data
Lifespan (yrs)
3-4
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
8.4 TL
Record Weight (kg)
none
Ontario Range Map
Eastern Sand Darter range
Ontario Distribution
Ausable River (extirpated), Lake St. Clair, Thames River, East Sydenham River, Lake Erie (Rondeau, Pelee, Long Point), Catfish Creek (extirpated), Big Otter Creek (extirpated), Big Creek, Grand River, West Lake (Lake Ontario)
Photographs
Eastern Sand Darter photograph
Eastern Sand Darter photograph
Notes
sensitive to siltation; exhibits fossorial (burying) behaviour in sandy substrates; use as bait prohibited
Information Sources
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