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Eastern Sand Darter (Ontario populations)
Alan Dextrase (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
SARA Status: Listed under Schedule 1 (June 2003)* COSEWIC Status: Threatened (November 2009)
* The Eastern Sand Darter was listed as "threatened" under the Species at Risk Act in June 2003. COSEWIC re-evaluated the species' status in 2009 and maintained its status as "threatened". However, Canadian Eastern Sand Darter populations were split into two designatable units, a first designatable unit for Quebec populations and a second for the populations in Ontario.
Region: Central & Arctic (Ontario)
Did You Know?
The Eastern Sand Darter buries itself in the sand, sometimes completely or leaving only its eyes exposed. This enables the fish to stay put in fast water and perhaps hide from predators. Thus, it is very vulnerable to any activity that could alter its preferred clean sand habitat.
Related Information
The Eastern Sand Darter (Ontario populations), a Species at Risk in Canada
(PDF 1,1 MB)
Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Sand Darter (Ontario populations) HTML - PDF (1,7 MB)
Aquatic Species at Risk - Eastern Sand Darter (Ontario populations)
Description
Habitat
Threats
Further Information
Scientific Information
Description
The Eastern Sand Darter is a translucent and elongated fish of a yellowish or silvery colour with a series of 10-14 dark lateral spots. It is partially covered with scales. Adults range in length from 45 to 70 mm.
Eastern Sand Darter in its preferred sandy habitat
Alan Dextrase (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
Habitat
The global range of Eastern Sand Darter is limited to North America. Its main range is located in eastern central United States north to the southernmost part of Ontario, with a smaller area located in Quebec and includes a few tributaries in Vermont and New York. In Ontario, it lives in Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, and several streams in southwestern Ontario.
Ontario distribution of the Eastern Sand Darter
The Eastern Sand Darter feeds mainly on midge larvae and zooplankton. Eastern Sand Darter are usually found in sandy areas in streams and on the sandy shoals of lakes.
Threats
The extent of occurrence of this species in Ontario is approximately half of what it was in the 1970s as a result of habitat loss and degradation from increasing urban and agricultural development, stream channelization and pollution. Dams have also created barriers to movement and affected habitat on some streams. A potentially significant threat relates to invasive species, with growing concerns relating to the ongoing colonization of the Round Goby in Great Lakes tributaries where the Eastern Sand Darter lives.
Further Information:
Since June 2003, the Eastern Sand Darter is protected under the Species at Risk Act, which prohibits harming, killing or capturing individuals.
A recovery strategy is currently being developed in collaboration with the recovery team, which includes representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, local Conservation Authorities, universities, and other interested stakeholders.
Several recovery measures have already been implemented. For example, there are currently four aquatic ecosystem-based recovery strategies for the following areas: Thames River, Sydenham River, Grand River and the Essex-Erie region. Each of these ecosystem-based strategies helps to support various populations of Eastern Sand Darter. In addition, stewardship and outreach/awareness programs to reduce identified threats are ongoing.
See also: Baitfish Primer for Ontario
Scientific Name: Ammocrypta pellucida
SARA Status: Listed under Schedule 1 (June 2003)*
COSEWIC Status: Threatened (November 2009)
