Etheostoma olivaceum
Sooty Darter
NS
G3
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Percidae (Perches)
Etheostoma
Etheostoma olivaceum (Sooty 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.)
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Characters
Body shape: elongated.
Distribution
North America: found only in the lower Caney Fork system and nearby tributaries of Cumberland River in central Tennessee, USA.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic.
Biology
Inhabit rocky pools and nearby riffles of headwaters and creeks (Ref. 5723); also found in streams (Ref. 10294). Often found in very shallow water less than 4 m deep (Ref. 5723). Juveniles feed on midge larvae and microcrustaceans; adults on midge larvae, other immature aquatic insects (mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies), isopods and amphipods (Ref. 10294). Eggs are found clustered on underside of stone and guarded by males (Ref. 7043).
Max length: 8.0 cm TL; common length: 5.0 cm TL; max age: 2 years.
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: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-12-22. Resilience: High (tmax=2).
References
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 olivaceum