About Percina westfalli (Fowler, 1942)
Taxonomy and Common Names
Percina westfalli, commonly known as the sooty-banded darter or Westfall's darter, is a species of darter that belongs to the subfamily Etheostomatinae. This species is native to the Southeastern United States.
Habitat and Diet
It is a benthic fish that typically inhabits streams and smaller rivers with sand or gravel bottoms, and it is primarily insectivorous.
Sympatric Species
In the Apalachicola Basin, P. westfalli lives in sympatry with P. crypta.
Taxonomic History
After its initial formal description, this species was later synonymized with P. nigrofasciata. It has since been separated back out and is once again recognized as a full distinct species, though many existing sources have not yet updated their materials to reflect this reclassification.
Gulf Slope Range
On the Gulf Slope, the range of P. westfalli extends eastward starting from the Apalachicola river basin.
Atlantic Slope Range
On the Atlantic Slope, its range runs from the Savannah river basin south to the St. Johns river basin.
Historical Range Record Context
Before this species was split from P. nigrofasciata, sources recorded the former parent taxon P. nigrofasciata as absent from the Satilla and St. Mary's river systems in Georgia and Florida.
Population Status
While P. westfalli is considered common across most of its range, it is thought to be rare in the Altamaha River.
