Federal Protection Considered for Rare Fish Found Only in Alabama

A rare and eye catching Alabama fish is one step closer to federal protection, according to the press release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The agency announced the stippled studfish may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act after a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, according to the press release. The freshwater species is now found only in Alabama after disappearing from Georgia streams decades ago.

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“It’s great news that these dazzling, freckly fish are one step closer to being protected under the Endangered Species Act,” said Meg Townsend, a freshwater attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.

The fish was once common throughout the Tallapoosa River system but has been pushed to the brink by development, pollution, and worsening drought, according to the press release. Today, it survives in only a few isolated Alabama streams.

Stippled studfish depend on cold, clear water and clean sand and gravel to reproduce, performing a rare spawning ritual by diving into the streambed to lay eggs. Those conditions are disappearing as forested stream areas give way to development, logging, livestock operations, and rising water temperatures, according to the press release.

“Stippled studfish have already completely disappeared from Georgia streams and without strong safeguards the few remaining populations in Alabama could also be lost forever,” Townsend said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will now continue reviewing the species to determine whether it will officially be listed as threatened or endangered, according to the press release.