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Tangerine Darter
Scientific name: Percina aurantiaca
Size: To 7 in.
Range: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia in the upper Tennessee river system
Habitat: Riffles and runs in cool, clear streams
Diet: Aquatic insect larvae
Conservation status: Special Concern
Tangerine darters are one of the most brightly colored fish you can find in the Southeast; they have certainly earned their name with their orange bellies and fins! They are unique to the region, and can be readily observed when snorkeling in clear streams. Because of their distribution, they are one of the upper Tennessee River fish species we are studying to learn more about their levels of genetic diversity.
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