I am trying to identify a darter I have captured in a small pool in a seasonal creek. The fish in question is about 3.5 inches long and very slender with a long pointed mouth. It has thin horizontal stripes along the entire length of its body and the tail is striped as well. The colors are not remarkable, mostly light brown with an orangish hue on area just below the throat. The most remarkable characteristics are the yellowish round projections on the tips of the dorsal spines. For lack of better imagery the dorsal fin resembles a row of tiny yellow lollipops! Any ideas?
Todd
Bloomington, IN
Darter ID
Started by
Guest_TME_*
, Aug 25 2010 07:19 PM
7 replies to this topic
#3
Guest_daveneely_*
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Posted 25 August 2010 - 07:35 PM
Welcome!
Assuming you were near Bloomington, it's likely a fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare). They're often one of the more abundant darters in very small creeks across their broad range. If you get a bit further south in the Ohio River drainage you can pick up a whole lot of different species that have knobs or other structures on the dorsal fins, that can be very difficult to tell apart. Locality is thus extremely important in making a positive ID.
The knobs have been hypothesized to function as egg-mimics; all of these species are cavity nesters where the cavity is guarded by a male, and the knobs supposedly look like a cluster of eggs to a interested female...
Uland, do we really not have any good pics of this species in the key yet?
Assuming you were near Bloomington, it's likely a fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare). They're often one of the more abundant darters in very small creeks across their broad range. If you get a bit further south in the Ohio River drainage you can pick up a whole lot of different species that have knobs or other structures on the dorsal fins, that can be very difficult to tell apart. Locality is thus extremely important in making a positive ID.
The knobs have been hypothesized to function as egg-mimics; all of these species are cavity nesters where the cavity is guarded by a male, and the knobs supposedly look like a cluster of eggs to a interested female...
Uland, do we really not have any good pics of this species in the key yet?
#4
Guest_Uland_*
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Posted 25 August 2010 - 07:40 PM
Golly Dave, I'm embarrassed on two counts. I suspected we were looking at a fantail and I just assumed we had some good photos up without checking.
I'll check my library and see if I can scrounge one up.
And Todd, I meant to tell you this in my first post. I moved your topic to the ID section.
I'll check my library and see if I can scrounge one up.
And Todd, I meant to tell you this in my first post. I moved your topic to the ID section.
#5
Guest_Uland_*
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Posted 25 August 2010 - 07:47 PM
Todd,
Is this what you've found?
Is this what you've found?
Attached Files
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Etheostoma flabellare Fantail Darter male.JPG 40.86KB
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#6
Guest_TME_*
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Posted 25 August 2010 - 08:46 PM
Golly Dave, I'm embarrassed on two counts. I suspected we were looking at a fantail and I just assumed we had some good photos up without checking.
I'll check my library and see if I can scrounge one up.
And Todd, I meant to tell you this in my first post. I moved your topic to the ID section.
I would have to say that the fish is indeed a fantail Darter. Thanks to you both Uland and Dave.
You have convinced me that I should officially join NANFA.
Todd
#7
Guest_Skipjack_*
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Posted 25 August 2010 - 11:38 PM
Super cool Todd. Wish everyone was such an easy recruit! I am in southwest Ohio, and try to get out netting as often as possible. Shoot me a PM if you are ever in the area. To be honest, flabellare are one of my favorite darters. Not too fantastic in color, but they sure make up for it in attitude. Ever do any caving over there south of Bloomington?I would have to say that the fish is indeed a fantail Darter. Thanks to you both Uland and Dave.
You have convinced me that I should officially join NANFA.
Todd
#8
Guest_Uland_*
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Posted 26 August 2010 - 07:23 AM
Todd, I'm glad to help but you deserve the credit. You nailed the key features in your initial post. Sometimes a few words are better than a thousand blurry pictures 
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