Etheostoma is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Percidae, and within the subfamily Etheostomatinae, native to North America. Most are restricted to the United States, but species are also found in Canada and Mexico. They are commonly known as darters, although the term "darter" is shared by several other genera. Many can produce alarm pheromones that serve to warn nearby fish in case of an attack.
Species
The 146 recognized species in this genus are arranged into 18 subgenera. Two former subgenera, Allohistium and Nothonotus have been promoted to full genera.
- Subgenus Belophlox <small>Fowler, 1947</small>
- Etheostoma fricksium <small>Hildebrand, 1923</small> (savannah darter)
- Etheostoma mariae <small>(Fowler, 1947)</small> (pinewoods darter)
- Etheostoma okaloosae <small>(Fowler, 1941)</small> (Okaloosa darter)
- Sugbenus Boleosoma <small>DeKay, 1842</small>
- Etheostoma longimanum <small>D. S. Jordan, 1888</small> (longfin darter)
- Etheostoma maculaticeps <small>(E. D. Cope, 1870)</small>
- Etheostoma nigrum <small>Rafinesque, 1820</small> (johnny darter)
- Etheostoma olmstedi <small>D. H. Storer, 1842</small> (tessellated darter)
- Etheostoma perlongum <small>C. L. Hubbs & Raney, 1946)</small> (Waccamaw darter)
- Etheostoma podostemone <small>D. S. Jordan & O. P. Jenkins, 1889</small> (riverweed darter)
- Etheostoma susanae <small>(D. S. Jordan & Swain, 1883)</small> (Cumberland darter)
- Etheostoma vexillare <small>(D. S. Jordan, 1880)</small>
- Sugbenus Catonotus <small>Agassiz, 1854</small>
- Etheostoma barbouri <small>Kuehne & J. W. Small, 1971</small> (teardrop darter)
- Etheostoma basilare <small>Page, Hardman & Near, 2003</small> (corrugated darter)
- Etheostoma brevispinum <small>(Coker, 1926)</small> (Carolina fantail darter)
- Etheostoma chienense <small>Page & Ceas, 1992</small> (relict darter)
- Etheostoma corona <small>Page & Ceas, 1992</small> (crown darter)
- Etheostoma crossopterum <small>Braasch & Mayden, 1985</small> (fringed darter)
- Etheostoma cumberlandicum <small>D. S. Jordan & Swain, 1883</small>
- Etheostoma derivativum <small>Page, Hardman & Near, 2003</small> (stone darter)
- Etheostoma flabellare <small>Rafinesque, 1819</small> (fantail darter)
- Etheostoma forbesi <small>Page & Ceas, 1992</small> (barrens darter)
- Etheostoma kennicotti <small>(Putnam, 1863)</small> (stripetail darter)
- Etheostoma lemniscatum <small>Blanton, 2008</small> (tuxedo darter)
- Etheostoma marmorpinnum <small>Blanton & R. E. Jenkins, 2008</small> (marbled darter)
- Etheostoma nebra <small>Near & M. R. Thomas, 2015</small> (buck darter)
- Etheostoma neopterum <small>W. M. Howell & Dingerkus, 1978</small> (lollipop darter)
- Etheostoma nigripinne <small>Braasch & Mayden, 1985</small> (blackfin darter)
- Etheostoma obeyense <small>Kirsch, 1892</small> (barcheek darter)
- Etheostoma olivaceum <small>Braasch & Page, 1979</small> (sooty darter)
- Etheostoma oophylax <small>Ceas & Page, 1992</small> (guardian darter)
- Etheostoma percnurum <small>R. E. Jenkins, 1994</small> (duskytail darter)
- Etheostoma pseudovulatum <small>Page & Ceas, 1992</small> (egg-mimic darter)
- Etheostoma sitikuense <small>Blanton, 2008</small> (Citico darter)
- Etheostoma smithi <small>Page & Braasch, 1976</small> (slabrock darter)
- Etheostoma squamiceps <small>D. S. Jordan, 1877</small> (spottail darter)
- Etheostoma striatulum <small>Page & Braasch, 1977</small> (striated darter)
- Etheostoma virgatum <small>(D. S. Jordan, 1880)</small> (striped darter)
- Etheostoma xanthovum <small>Wood & Near, 2023</small>
- Subgenus Doration <small>D.S. Jordan, 1929</small>
- Etheostoma akatulo <small>Layman & Mayden, 2009</small> (bluemask darter)
- Etheostoma clinton <small>Mayden & Layman, 2012</small> (beaded darter)
- Etheostoma gore <small>Mayden & Layman, 2012</small> (Cumberland darter)
- Etheostoma jessiae <small>(D. S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878)</small> (blueside darter)
- Etheostoma jimmycarter <small>Mayden & Layman, 2012</small> (bluegrass darter)
- Etheostoma meadiae <small>(D. S. Jordan & B. W. Evermann, 1898)</small>
- Etheostoma obama <small>Mayden & Layman, 2012</small> (spangled darter)
- Etheostoma stigmaeum <small>(D. S. Jordan, 1877)</small> (speckled darter)
- Etheostoma teddyroosevelt <small>Mayden & Layman, 2012</small> (highland darter)
- Subgenus Etheostoma
- Etheostoma blennioides <small>Rafinesque, 1819</small> (greenside darter)
- Etheostoma blennius <small>C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887</small> (blenny darter)
- Etheostoma gutselli <small>(Hildebrand, 1932)</small> (Tuckasegee darter)
- Etheostoma histrio <small>D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1887</small> (harlequin darter)
- Etheostoma inscriptum <small>(D. S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878)</small> (turquoise darter)
- Etheostoma lynceum <small>O. P. Hay, 1885</small> (brighteye darter)
- Etheostoma rupestre <small>C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887</small> (rock darter)
- Etheostoma swannanoa <small>D. S. Jordan & Evermann, 1889</small> (Swannanoa darter)
- Etheostoma sequatchiense <small>Burr, 1979</small> (Sequatchie darter)
- Etheostoma thalassinum <small>(D. S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878)</small> (seagreen darter)
- Etheostoma zonale <small>(Cope, 1868)</small> (banded darter)
- Subgenus Fuscatelum <small>Page, 1981</small>
- Etheostoma parvipinne <small>C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887</small> (goldstripe darter)
- Etheostoma phytophilum <small>Bart & M. S. Taylor, 1999</small> (rush darter)
- Subgenus Hololepis <small>Putnam, 1863</small>
- Etheostoma collis <small>(C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935)</small> (Carolina darter)
- Etheostoma fusiforme <small>(Girard, 1854)</small> (swamp darter)
- Etheostoma gracile <small>(Girard, 1859)</small> (slough darter)
- Etheostoma serrifer <small>(C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935)</small> (sawcheek darter)
- Etheostoma zonifer <small>C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935)</small> (backwater darter)
- Subgenus Ioa <small>D.S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878</small>
- Etheostoma vitreum <small>(Cope, 1870)</small> (glassy darter)
- Subgenus Litocara <small>R.M. Bailey, 1948</small>
- Etheostoma nianguae <small>C. H. Gilbert & Meek, 1887</small> (Niangua darter)
- Etheostoma sagitta <small>(D. S. Jordan & Swain, 1883)</small> (arrow darter)
- Etheostoma spilotum <small>C. H. Gilbert, 1887</small> (Kentucky arrow darter, Cumberland Plateau darter)
- Subgenus Microperca <small>Putnam, 1863</small>
- Etheostoma fonticola <small>(D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1886)</small> (fountain darter)
- Etheostoma microperca <small>D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1888</small> (least darter)
- Etheostoma proeliare <small>(O. P. Hay, 1881)</small> (cypress darter)
- Subgenus Mooreichthys <small>R.R. Stephens, K.A. Johnson & M.P. Grady, 2014</small>
- Etheostoma sellare <small>(Radcliffe & W. W. Welsh, 1913)</small> (Maryland darter)
- Sugenus Oligocephalus <small>Girard, 1859</small>
- Etheostoma artesiae <small>(O. P. Hay, 1881)</small> (redspot darter)
- Etheostoma asprigene <small>(S. A. Forbes, 1878)</small> (mud darter)
- Etheostoma australe <small>D. S. Jordan, 1889</small> (Conchos darter)
- Etheostoma bison <small>Ceas & Page, 1997</small> (buffalo darter)
- Etheostoma burri <small>Ceas & Page, 1997</small> (brook darter)
- Etheostoma caeruleum <small>D. H. Storer, 1845</small> (rainbow darter)
- Etheostoma collettei <small>Birdsong & L. W. Knapp, 1969</small> (creole darter)
- Etheostoma cyanorum <small>(Moore & Rigney, 1952)</small>
- Etheostoma ditrema <small>Ramsey & Suttkus, 1965</small> (coldwater darter)
- Etheostoma exile <small>(Girard, 1859)</small> (Iowa darter)
- Etheostoma fragi <small>Distler, 1968</small> (strawberry darter)
- Etheostoma grahami <small>(Girard, 1859)</small> (Rio Grande darter)
- Etheostoma hopkinsi <small>(Fowler, 1945)</small> (Christmas darter)
- Etheostoma kantuckeense <small>Ceas & Page, 1997</small> (Highland Rim darter)
- Etheostoma lawrencei <small>Ceas & Burr, 2002</small> (headwater darter)
- Etheostoma lepidum <small>(S. F. Baird & Girard, 1853)</small> (greenthroat darter)
- Etheostoma lugoi <small>S. M. Norris & W. L. Minckley, 1997</small> (tufa darter)
- Etheostoma luteovinctum <small>C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887</small> (redband darter)
- Etheostoma nuchale <small>W. M. Howell & R. D. Caldwell, 1965</small> (watercress darter)
- Etheostoma pottsii <small>(Girard, 1859)</small> (Chihuahua darter)
- Etheostoma radiosum <small>(C. L. Hubbs & J. D. Black, 1941)</small> (orangebelly darter)
- Etheostoma segrex <small>S. M. Norris & W. L. Minckley, 1997</small> (RÃÂo Salado darter)
- Etheostoma spectabile <small>(Agassiz, 1854)</small> (orangethroat darter)
- Etheostoma swaini <small>(D. S. Jordan, 1884)</small> (Gulf darter)
- Etheostoma tecumsehi <small>Ceas & Page, 1997</small> (Shawnee darter)
- Etheostoma thompsoni <small>Suttkus, Bart & Etnier, 2012</small> (gumbo darter)
- Etheostoma uniporum <small>Distler, 1968</small> (current darter)
- Etheostoma whipplei <small>(Girard, 1859)</small> (redfin darter)
- Subgenus Ozarka <small>J.D. Williams & Robison, 1981</small>
- Etheostoma autumnale <small>Mayden, 2010</small> (autumn darter)
- Etheostoma boschungi <small>Wall & J. D. Williams, 1974</small> (slackwater darter)
- Etheostoma cragini <small>C. H. Gilbert, 1885</small> (Arkansas darter)
- Etheostoma mihileze <small>Mayden, 2010</small> (sunburst darter)
- Etheostoma pallididorsum <small>Distler & Metcalf, 1962</small> (paleback darter)
- Etheostoma punctulatum <small>(Agassiz, 1854)</small> (stippled darter)
- Etheostoma trisella <small>R. M. Bailey & W. J. Richards, 1963</small> (trispot darter)
- Subgenus Poecilichthys <small>Agassiz, 1854</small>
- Etheostoma erythrozonum <small>Switzer & R. M. Wood, 2009</small> (Meramec saddled darter)
- Etheostoma euzonum <small>(C. L. Hubbs & J. D. Black, 1940)</small> (Arkansas saddled darter)
- Etheostoma kanawhae <small>(Raney, 1941)</small> (Kanawha darter)
- Etheostoma osburni <small>(C. L. Hubbs & Trautman, 1932)</small> (candy darter)
- Etheostoma tetrazonum <small>(C. L. Hubbs & J. D. Black, 1940)</small> (Missouri saddled darter)
- Etheostoma variatum <small>Kirtland, 1838</small> (variegated darter)
- Subgenus Psychromaster <small>D.S. Jordan & Evermann, 1896</small>
- Etheostoma tuscumbia <small>C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887</small> (Tuscumbia darter)
- Subgenus Ulocentra <small>D.S. Jordan, 1878</small> âÂÂSnubnose dartersâÂÂ
- Etheostoma atripinne <small>(D. S. Jordan, 1877)</small> (Cumberland snubnose darter)
- Etheostoma baileyi <small>Page & Burr, 1982</small> (emerald darter)
- Etheostoma barrenense <small>Burr & Page, 1982</small> (splendid darter)
- Etheostoma bellator <small>Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1993</small> (warrior darter)
- Etheostoma birminghamense <small>Brownstein, Kim, Wood, Alley, Stokes & Near, 2025</small>
- Etheostoma brevirostrum <small>Suttkus & Etnier, 1991</small> (holiday darter)
- Etheostoma cervus <small>Powers & Mayden, 2003</small> (Chickasaw darter)
- Etheostoma chermocki <small>Boschung, Mayden & Tomelleri, 1992</small> (vermilion darter)
- Etheostoma colorosum <small>Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1993</small> (coastal darter)
- Etheostoma coosae <small>(Fowler, 1945)</small> (Coosa darter)
- Etheostoma cyanoprosopum <small>Near & Kozal, 2017</small> (blueface darter)
- Etheostoma duryi <small>Henshall, 1889</small> (black darter)
- Etheostoma etnieri <small>Bouchard, 1977</small> (cherry darter)
- Etheostoma faulkneri <small>Sterling & Warren, 2020</small> (Yoknapatawpha darter)
- Etheostoma flavum <small>Etnier & R. M. Bailey, 1989</small> (saffron darter)
- Etheostoma gurleyense <small>Brownstein, Kim, Wood, Alley, Stokes & Near, 2025</small>
- Etheostoma kimberlae <small>Mayden, 2025</small>
- Etheostoma lachneri <small>Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1994</small> (Tombigbee darter)
- Etheostoma michellae <small>Mayden, 2025</small>
- Etheostoma orientale <small>Powers & Mayden, 2007</small> (East Rim darter)
- Etheostoma planasaxatile <small>Powers & Mayden, 2007</small> (duck darter)
- Etheostoma pyrrhogaster <small>R. M. Bailey & Etnier, 1988</small> (firebelly darter)
- Etheostoma rafinesquei <small>Burr & Page, 1982</small> (Kentucky darter)
- Etheostoma ramseyi <small>Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1994</small> (Alabama darter)
- Etheostoma raneyi <small>Suttkus & Bart, 1994</small> (Yazoo darter)
- Etheostoma scotti <small>Bauer, Etnier & Burkhead, 1995</small> (Cherokee darter)
- Etheostoma simoterum <small>(Cope, 1868)</small> (snubnose darter)
- Etheostoma tallapoosae <small>Suttkus & Etnier, 1991</small> (Tallapoosa darter)
- Etheostoma zonistium <small>R. M. Bailey & Etnier, 1988</small> (bandfin darter)
- Subgenus Vaillantia <small>D.S. Jordan, 1878</small>
- Etheostoma chlorosoma <small>(O. P. Hay, 1881)</small> (bluntnose darter)
- Etheostoma davisoni <small>O. P. Hay, 1885</small> (Choctawhatchee darter)
- Subgenus Villora <small>Hubbs & Cannon, 1935</small>
- Etheostoma edwini <small>(C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935)</small> (brown darter)
Synonyms
References