The status of the Eastern Sand Darter, Ammocrypta pellucida, in Canada

Abstract

The Eastern Sand Darter, Ammocrypta pellucida, is a small slender member of the family Percidae.It is widely and disjunctly distributed in north central North America.The degradation of its preferred sand-bottomed habitat has led to the decline of populations in the United States where it is classified by the American Fisheries Society as Threatened.Many populations have also declined or been extirpated in Canada.Recent collections from lakes Erie and St. Clair, and the Grand, Sydenham, and Thames rivers indicate that some populations still exist in Ontario.It has not been captured in recent sampling in Québec.It is recommended that the Eastern Sand Darter be classified as Threatened in Canada.