OKALOOSA DARTER 



Etheostoma okloosae Fowler 



KINGDOM Animalia 



CLASS Osteichthyes 



ORDER Perciformes 



FAMILY Percidae 



OTHER COMMON NAMES 



DATE 



Entered into SWIS to be determined 



Updates 4 October 1976, 24 January 1977 



21 May 1979 



LEGAL STATUS 



Federal: Endangered (38 FR 14678, 4 June 

 1973) 



States: Endangered: Florida. 



REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS 



The Okaloosa darter's limited range makes it a 

 vulnerable species. In 1964 a small number of 

 brown darters {Etheostoma edwini), a very close- 

 ly related allopatric species with similar habitat 

 and ecological requirements, was found at three 

 stations in Rocky and Swift Creeks, perhaps due 

 to human introduction (Yerger 1979). By 1975, 

 the number of Okaloosa darters markedly de- 

 creased at three stations along Swift Creek, and 

 the number of brown darters increased (Mettee 

 1976). Brown darters are now known from 15 

 sites within the range of the Okaloosa darter and 

 appear to be replacing the latter species at several 

 sites in Rocky and Swift Creeks (Mettee and 

 Crittenden 1977). 



Other influencing factors affecting the Oka- 

 loosa darter's status are temporary disruption of 

 habitat due to road, bridge, and powerline con- 



