Highland darter
📖 Overview
Highland darter (Etheostoma teddyroosevelt) is a ray-finned fish of the family Percidae. It inhabits freshwater waters. This species can reach a maximum total length of 4.3 cm. With a trophic level of 3.2, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 7 - 10. The breeding male of this species, which is a member of the subgenus Doration, is distinguished by the following characters: a spinous dorsal fin with black marginal and submedial bands, orange medial band, basal band lacking bright orange pigment; soft dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins with subdued but usually discrete orange spots on rays; absence of blue pigment on soft dorsal and anal fins; anal fin with subdued orange spots on rays; face and lower head dark gray with milky blue sheen; deep blue on operculum, preoperculum, cheek, and suborbital bar (not on lips and mid-gular region); quadrate lateral blue blotches extending ventrad from lateral line scale row; blue wedge on ventral half of caudal fin base but not developed dorsally. Additional characters include absence of frenum; incomplete lateral line; unpored scales modally greater than 10 (16); usually naked cheek; the palatine teeth usually absent, present in 16% of specimens; dorsal fin spines modally 11-12, soft rays modally 11; anal fin soft rays modally 8; pectoral fin rays modally 14; principal caudal fin rays modally 15; caudal peduncle scales modally 16; preoperculomandibular canal pores modally 10 .Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Highland darter is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate North America: United States of America (Arkansas and upper White river drainages on the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, Arkansas, extreme southeastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma).
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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