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bridled darter (Percina kusha, formerly Percina sp. cf. macrocephala)

Status: Georgia listed rare / Likely candidate for Federal listing

Description:
The bridled darter is a slender fish reaching about three inches in length, with a series of overlapping circular blotches running down either side. The bridled darter is found in the Etowah, Conasauga and Coosawattee River drainages, and has close relatives in the Tallapapoosa River and the Warrior River. Like several other species in the Etowah, it was only identified as a separate species in recent decades and has not yet formally been described. In the Etowah River it is exceedingly rare and has only been collected from Long Swamp Creek, Amicalola Creek and the Etowah headwaters. It inhabits riffles and flowing pools with moderate to swift currents. While currently unlisted, the bridled darter is a species of conservation concern and could warrant future listing.

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Distribution of Percina kusha (formerly Percina sp. cf. macrocephala) within the Etowah basin

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Complete known range of Percina kusha (formerly Percina sp. cf. macrocephala)

For more information on this species, see Description and Distribution of Species Covered by the Etowah Aquatic HCP, November 2006, Byron Freeman and Seth Wenger.