Eastern Sand Darter
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Name and Code Family Percidae - perches and darters Species Ammocrypta pellucida Taxonomic Authority (Putnam 1863) Common Name(s) Eastern Sand Darter French Name dard de sable Species Code 335 Family TSN 168356 Parent TSN 168511 Species TSN 168517 Conservation Status Global Rank (GRank) G4 (2011-10-19) National Rank (NRank) N2 (2017-08-19) Provincial Rank (SRank) S2 (2009-03-23) COSEWIC Status Threatened1,2 (May 2022) SARO Status Endangered (2009) AFS Status Vulnerable (1) Status Notes (1) Southwestern Ontario population; (2) West Lake population Ecological Value Ontario Origin native General Abundance rare Tolerance intolerant Economic Importance none Length-Weight Regression Coefficents Intercept (a) -5.0639 Slope (b) 2.87 Length Basis TL				Habitat and Feeding General Habitat(s) lacustrine; riverine Environment benthic Trophic Class invertivore Thermal Regime warmwater Habitat Preference sandy bottoms of large creeks and small to medium rivers in moderate current, and sandy shoals of lakes at depths of 5-15 m; preferred water temperature range 24-25.5°C Reproduction Reproductive Guild Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Psammophils Spawning Habitat(s) riverine Spawning Season summer Spawning Month(s) June-July Spawning Temperature (°C) 17-25.5 Fecundity 22-829 Nursery Habitat(s) riverine Size and Age Adult Length (cm) 4.6-7.1 TL Adult Weight (kg) 0.0005-0.0020 Age at Maturity (yrs) 1 (m); 1-2 (f) Maximum Length (cm) 8.4 TL Maximum Weight (kg) no data Lifespan (yrs) 3-4 Ontario Records Record Length (cm) 8.4 TL Record Weight (kg) none				Ontario Range Map Ontario Distribution Ausable River (extirpated), Lake St. Clair, Thames River, East Sydenham River, Lake Erie (Rondeau, Pelee, Long Point), Catfish Creek (extirpated), Big Otter Creek (extirpated), Big Creek, Grand River, West Lake (Lake Ontario) Photographs Notes sensitive to siltation; exhibits fossorial (burying) behaviour in sandy substrates; use as bait prohibited
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