Blotchside Logperch | Percina burtoni

Status: IUCN: Vulnerable; USFWS: Not Listed

Threats: Deforestation, habitat modification, impoundments, mining, and sedimentation.

CFI Status: Propagated at CFI from 2007-Present to develop propagation protocols, reintroduction, and monitoring. (What do these terms mean?)

Native Range: Tennessee and Cumberland River drainages, VA, NC, TN, GA, and AL

Spawning Habitat Preferences: Spring spawners in medium to large streams with high flow; eggs are buried in gravel substrates

Fun Fact: The Blotchside Logperch, like many of the other logperches, clearly demonstrates signs of higher intelligence than many fishes. Their ability to carefully consider the angle that will provide the most mechanical leverage when flipping a stone with their pointy snout is impressive enough on its own, but when that behavior then becomes part of a spawning ritual, it becomes that much more impressive. Our biologists observed a male and female in captivity performing an elaborate negotiation, flipping stones and gesturing to one another while deciding the ideal spawning location. This took several minutes and is one of the most slow and considered mating displays we have observed.

In Partnership With: North Carolina Departments of Environmental Quality - Cheoah Fund; North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources; North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Tallassee Fund; Southern Region Forest Service; Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources