The snail darter is no longer facing the threat of extinction.
In the 1970s, this fish spurred a US Supreme Court case about conservation law.
Its survival may be a testament to the ruling, but it’s complicated.
It was all because ofa tiny fish: the snail darter.
The snail darter,listed as an endangered species since 1975, lived in that river.
Presumably,onlyin that river.
It was a massive impasse that evolved into a long legal battle,eventually reaching the Supreme Court.
But in 1978, the court ruled in favor of protecting the snail darter.
“Not now,” the institution said in a statement, “nor in the foreseeable future.”
Later, the swimmers were discovered in other places.
(Williams is the biologist who listed the snail darter as endangered).
It’s a complex saga, yes, but one with a silver lining.
At last, the snail darter has exited the endangered species list and achieved redemption.
Correction, 12:15 p.m.: This story initially misstated the number of years since the Supreme Court ruling.
It’s been 44 years.
