Etheostoma maculatum
Spotted Darter
NS
G3
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Percidae (Perches)
Etheostoma
Etheostoma maculatum (Spotted Darter)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
Learn more about our species accounts.
Characters
Body shape: elongated.
Distribution
North America: Ohio River basin from western New York and Pennsylvania to northern Indiana, and south to West Virginia and Kentucky in the USA.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic.
Biology
Occur in fast, rocky riffles of small to medium rivers (Ref. 5723). Eggs are found clustered on underside of stone and guarded by males (Ref. 7043).
Max length: 9.0 cm TL; common length: 5.5 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (clutch tenders); parental care: paternal. Eggs are found clustered on underside of stone (Ref. 7043). Males guard the eggs (Ref. 7043).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU), assessed 2011-12-20. Resilience: Medium (Fec=400).
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Page, L. (1983) Handbook of darters. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. USA. 271 p.
Comments On Etheostoma maculatum