Tangerine Darter,  Percina aurantiaca

 

Physical Description: 
�	Elongate body
�	Two dorsal fins, almost connected
�	Large eye at top of head
�	Terminal mouth
�	Short, blunt nose
�	Somewhat forked tail fin
�	Dark olive-colored body with dark bands across back
�	Dark, blotches form a stripe along the side
�	First dorsal fin with orange band
�	Males bright orange on lower side and belly 

Similar species: 
�	Bronze darter (Percina palmaris)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 90-130 mm standard length 

Habitat:
�	Clear streams and rivers in gravel, rubble, boulder, and bedrock slow runs and pools

Distribution in VA:
�	Native to the Tennessee drainage

Food Habits:  
�	Insects 

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature around age 1 or 2
�	Spawning occurs May to June
�	Spawn in sand and gravel in shallows with current
�	Fecundity is 120-578 eggs per female

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	One of the most brilliantly colored darters

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