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Snail Darter, Central to Tellico Dam Supreme Court Case, Genetically Identical to Non-Endangered Fish

Jan 4, 2025, 06:09 PM

Scientists have discovered that the snail darter, a fish whose endangered status famously delayed the construction of the Tellico Dam in Tennessee during the 1970s, is genetically identical to another fish species, the stargazing darter. Researchers, including Thomas Near from Yale University, published findings in the journal Current Biology indicating that the snail darter, previously classified as Percina tanasi, is actually an eastern population of Percina uranidea, which is not endangered. The revelation suggests that the snail darter's distinct species status, which led to a significant legal battle and Supreme Court case against the Tennessee Valley Authority, may have been influenced by the desire to halt the dam's construction.