Etheostoma olmstedi

Description

This member of the Perch family has a long, cylinder shaped body. It is straw yellow colored with dark X’s and W’s along the midline of the sides, dark speckles and zigzags along the sides and top, and dark saddle like blotches along the back. The belly is a creamy white color. Two black lines extend from the eyes to the mouth and snout. The tip of the snout is completely separated from the upper lip by a deep groove. The tail is fairly square shaped. During breeding seasons, males will become almost completely black.

Habitat

Prefers sand or mud-bottomed lakes, rivers, and streams. It frequently can be found in warmer brook trout streams.

Diet

Primarily eats crustaceans, insects, algae, and eggs.

Size

Average size is 2 – 3 inches.

Range

Occurs in North America east of Lake Ontario and the Ottawa River; can be found in Canada, all along the Atlantic Coast, and into Florida.

Other Useful Information

Important food fish for larger fishes; another common name for this fish is the Eastern Johnny darter.

Similar Species

Swamp Darter