Robert (gurdonark) wrote,
Robert
gurdonark

darters

I like to read the book "Fishes of Arkansas". It's a giant reference tome, with pictures of all the different native species of fish in the Arkansas region. Virtually every creek in Arkansas seems to have its own native darter species. Darters, which are related to killifish, are incredibly colorful. Because many of these fish are endemic only to a stream or two, most are not preserved in aquaria or other places in which they may be readily seen. As industry evolves, sometimes an individual river or creek might be lost, along with the darter fish species in that river or creek.

Today I'm feeling as though I travel in a bit of a haze, populated only by dull colored bass and catfish, with a few pumpkin-seed and green sunfish swimming about. I want to keep an eye out, though, for the darter fish in my life--bright, elusive, and so very colorful. I suspect I do not see all the darters around me, as they occupy their own niches. In the wild, I do not believe I have ever seen a literal darter fish at a time when I knew that it was a darter fish. In my metaphor, though, I imagine that I can spot a darter once in a while, and watch the darter shimmer.
Subscribe

  • Before the rain

    I got out this morning to take a walk, to get my exercise in before a storm moved in. I walked an hour in our neighborhood Glendover Park and the…

  • foggy, misty day

    The weather turned foggy and misty-rainy today. I walked in Glendover Park, where American Robins appeared in profusion. I saw 14 bird species. I…

  • novella unlocked

    I worked a solid day on Thursday. Friday involves more to do. I finished reading Dan Koboldt's book "Domesticating Dragons,", a…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    switch
    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    Help
  • 3 comments