Fantail Darter,  Etheostoma flabellare

 

Physical Description: 
�	Darter with a low first dorsal fin
�	Large pectoral fins
�	Dark-colored bars on tan, brown, maybe yellow or orange-colored sides
�	Rounded tail with marbled pigmentation
�	Somewhat elongate body
�	Somewhat short, rounded snout
�	Terminal, horizontal mouth
�	Yellow color on fins

Similar species: 
�	Duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum)
�	Stripetail darter (Etheostoma kennicotti)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 35-60 mm standard length 

Habitat:
�	Cool and warm, clear, unsilted and slightly silted, gravelly and rocky small to medium-sized streams 
�	Shore areas of lakes

Distribution in VA:
�	Virginia's drainages except the Rappahannock and York drainages

Food Habits:  
�	Mayfly, caddisfly, and midge larvae

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature at age 1 or 2 
�	Spawning occurs during April and May at water temperatures of 15-24�C
�	Occurs in runs and slow riffles, including shallows
�	Egg-clusterer � adhesive eggs laid on the underside of stones
�	Fecundity is about 40-586 eggs per female 

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Highly ubiquitous fish 
�	Body tissues may coat eggs with a bactericide and fungicide during nesting period
�	Tolerant fish

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Yellow Perch Dusky Darter Sharpnose Darter Blotchside Logperch Roanoke Logperch Logperch Stripeback Darter Appalachia Darter Shield Darter Roanoke Darter Gilt Darter Tangerine Darter Channel Darter Ashy Darter Swannanoa Darter Kanawha Darter Candy Darter Greenside Darter Greenside Darter Banded Darter Snubnose Darter Speckled Darter Longfin Darter Riverweed Darter Johnny Darter Glassy Darter Bluebreast Darter Redline Darter Tippecanoe Darter Sharphead Darter Wounded Darter Fantail Darter Sawcheek Darter Carolina Darter Rainbow Darter Swamp Darter Blueside Darter Spotted Darter Tessellated Darter Finescale Saddled Dart. Variegate Darter Blackside Darter Stripeback Darter Walleye Continue Browsing Families..... Petromyzontidae, Lampreys Polyodontidae, Paddlefish Acipenseridae, Sturgeons Lepisosteidae, Gars Amiidae, Bowfins Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes Ictaluridae, Catfish Percopsidae, Trout-Perches Salmonidae, Trouts Clupeidae, Herrings Esocidae, Pikes Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches Umbridae, Mudminnows Fundulidae, Killifishes Poeciliidae, Livebearers Cyprinidae, Minnows Catostomidae, Suckers Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks Atherinidae, Silversides Cottidae, Sculpins Sciaenidae, Drums Percidae, Perches Moronidae, Striped Basses Centrarchidae, Sunfishes