Roanoke Logperch ‘king of darters’ no longer at risk of extinction

Odyssey Fields
·2 min read

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — For more than 30 years, the Roanoke logperch has been listed as an endangered species. Now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the fish is no longer at risk of extinction.

This comes after a review of the best available science and a result from the Roanoke logperch surveys and aquatic restoration projects. As a result, the Wildlife Service says it is proposing to remove the fish from the endangered species list.

The Roanoke logperch, or the Percina rex, is a larger freshwater darter. The fish is known as the king of the darters because of its size compared to others in its family. On Average, this species can grow up to six inches long and have strongly patterned fins. It can be identified by its unique orange band on the dorsal fins.

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(Photo Courtesy: U.S. Forest Service)
(Photo Courtesy: U.S. Forest Service)

The Roanoke logperch was listed as endangered in 1989 and was only found in 14 streams. Over the years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the fish habitat restoration has more than doubled the species range with 31 occupied streams as of 2019.

This kind of darters can be found in larger streams in the upper Roanoke River, Smith River, Pigg River, Otter River, Nottoaway River systems, and Goose Creek in Virginia. Swimming into North Carolina, the Roanoke Logperch can be found in Dan, Mayo, Smith River Systems, and Big Beaver Island Creek.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says with the help of several programs and funds including the Service’s National Fish Passage Program, multiple dams, and barriers have been removed in both Virginia and North Carolina connecting hundreds of miles of Roanoke logperch habitat. This program helped remove more than 3,400 barriers to aquatic connectivity and reopen over 61,000 stream miles.

The proposal to remove the Roanoke logperch from the Endangered Species Act will be published in the Federal Register on April 2.

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