Rainbow Darter,  Etheostoma caeruleum

 

Physical Description: 
�	Eyes almost on top of head
�	Rounded tail fin 
�	Robust body
�	Terminal mouth 
�	Dark mottling or vertical bars on light green body
�	Blue-green edge and orange streaks on tail fin
�	All fins blue-green except pectoral fins which are orange

Similar species: 
�	Fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 35-50 standard length 

Habitat:
�	Warm, streams and rivers, over sand, gravel, and rubble in runs and riffles

Distribution in VA:
�	Big Sandy, upper New, and lower Tennessee drainage 

Food Habits:  
�	Insects and other invertebrates

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature by age 1
�	Spawning occurs late February to mid-June 
�	Males territorial � choose territories in runs and riffles
�	Eggs buried
�	Fecundity is 125-880 eggs per female 

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	May be extirpated from the New drainage due to invasion of Roanoke darter
�	Uncommon in Virginia

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