Etheostoma smithi
Slabrock Darter
NS
G4
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 smithi (Slabrock 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: occurs only in the lower Cumberland (below Caney Fork) and lower Tennessee River (in lower Duck River and downstream) drainages in Kentucky and Tennessee, USA.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic.
Biology
Inhabit rocky pools of headwaters, creeks and small rivers, and rocky margins of medium-sized rivers and impoundments (Ref. 5723); also found in streams (Ref. 10294). Adults feed on midge, mayfly, and immature caddisfly, with copepods and other microcrustaceans (Ref. 10294). Eggs are found clustered on underside of stone and guarded by males (Ref. 7043).
Max length: 6.2 cm TL; common length: 4.1 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 2012-01-23. Resilience: High (tmax=2; Fec=17-69).
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 smithi