Dusky darter

Picture of the Dusky darter has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.
Original source: originally posted to Flickr as Dusky darter (Percin
Author: Clinton & Charles Robertson Permission (

The Dusky darter lives in the benthopelagic, freshwater, pH range: 6.8 - 7.8, dH range: 8 - 18 environment.

The dusky darter is one of several darter species that have greatly expanded their range in Ohio since the mid 1980's. This coincides with better treatment of wastewater resulting in improved water quality. More

CHARACTERISTICS: The dusky darter is distinguished by moderately joined gill membranes, three vertical spots at the base of the caudal fin, which may be fused, and oval lateral blotches. The cheeks, opercles, and nape are usually scaled. More

Dusky darter; Gulf darter; Striated darter; Banded darter; Redfin darter; Boulder darter; Coppercheek darter; Sharphead darter; Brown darter; Choctawhatchee darter; Turquoise darter; Christmas darter; Slough darter; Swamp darter; Fountain darter; Fantail darter; Iowa darter; Spotted darter; Yoke darter; Okaloosa darter; Black darter; River darter; More

Diagnosis: The dusky darter is a moderately slender darter, pale olive green or grayish-yellow above and whitish below. It has two anal spines, the upper lip is bound to the snout by a well-developed frenum, and gill covers tat are moderately connected at the isthmus. More

Common names

Dunkel smutte in Danish (dansk)
dusky darter in English
Rauchspringbarsch in German (Deutsch)
暗淡小鱸 in Mandarin Chinese
暗淡小鲈 in Mandarin Chinese

Order : Perciformes
Family : Percidae
Genus : Percina
Species : Percina sciera
Authority : Swain, 1883