General Information

Habitat Requirements

The yellowcheek darter inhabits high-gradient headwater tributaries with clear water, permanent flow, moderate to strong riffles, and gravel, cobble, and boulder substrates (Robison and Buchanan 1988).

Food Habits

Prey items consumed by the yellowcheek darter include blackfly larvae, stoneflies, mayflies and other aquatic insects.

Movement / Home Range

Movement is not well understood. During non-spawning months, there is a general movement to portions of the riffle with smaller substrate, such as gravel or cobble, and less turbulence (Robison and Harp 1981). Weston and Johnson (2005) observed that the yellowcheek darter moved very little during a one-year migration study. It was noted the yellowcheek darter appears to be a relatively non-mobile species, with 19 of 22 recaptured individuals found within nine meters (29.5 ft) of their original capture position after periods of several months (Weston and Johnson 2005). Yellowcheek darter is endemic to the Little Red River system in the Boston Mountains of north central Arkansas. It occurs in the South, Archey, Middle, Beech, and Devils Forks of the Little Red River.

Reproductive Strategy

Yellowcheek Darter males and females reach sexual maturity at one year of age(McDaniel 1984). Spawning occurs from late May through June in portions of riffles with swift to moderately swift water velocities, often around or under the largest substrate particles (McDaniel 1984), although brooding females have been found at the head of riffles in smaller gravel substrate (Wine et al. 2000). Researchers have suggested the yellowcheek darterYellowcheek Darter deposits eggs on the undersides of large cobble in swift water (McDaniel 1984). Wine and Blumenshine (2002) noted, during laboratory spawning, yellowcheek darter females bury themselves in fine gravel or sand substrates (often behind large cobble or boulders) with only their heads and caudal fin exposed. A male yellowcheek darter will then position upstream of the buried female and fertilize her eggs as she releases them in a vibrating motion. Clutch size and nest defense behavior were not observed by Wine and Blumenshine (2002), but laboratory spawning efforts by Conservation Fisheries, Inc. noted clutch sizes were routinely between 20-40 eggs (CFI 2007).

Other

Maximum lifespan is around five years (McDaniel 1984).