Etheostoma kennicotti (Putnam, 1863)

Scientific Nomenclature and Male Appearance

The stripetail darter, scientifically named Etheostoma kennicotti (Putnam, 1863), has adult males that are golden orange and grow up to 2.8 inches (7.1 cm) long.

Fin Markings

This species has black bands on its caudal fins and soft dorsal fins.

General Species Traits and Habitat Type

The stripetail darter is a small, benthic freshwater fish that lives in river tributaries.

Historic Range Context

Its historic native geographic range is likely similar to its current range.

Current River System Distribution

At present, the species lives in tributaries of the Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, and Paint Rock river systems. A population of stripetail darters also lives in the Green River drainage in Kentucky.

Population Abundance by River System

The Paint Rock and Ohio River systems hold the species' largest populations, and it is less common across the Tennessee River system.

State-Level Distribution

Stripetail darters are found in the U.S. states of Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.

Overall Range Pattern

Across its overall range, the species' distribution is typically spotty, with multiple separate subpopulations, but the species as a whole remains abundant.

Subpopulation Variation

Page and Smith found that the species varies slightly between different subpopulations based on their location.

Population Isolation Drivers

This population isolation may be caused by climate-related factors including low temperatures and low water levels.

Population Size and Trend

The current estimated total population across the species' range is over 10,000 individuals, and the population is stable.

Diet Composition

The stripetail darter's diet consists of mayflies, fishflies, midge larvae, isopods, stoneflies, and cladocerans.

Water Condition Tolerance

This species can tolerate a wide range of water pH levels and temperatures.

Primary Habitat Preferences

Stripetail darters typically live in slab pools in streams and headwaters, as well as creeks and small slow-flowing rivers with rocky substrate and rubble.

Secondary Habitat Locations

They can also be found in riffles, under stones, and under overhanging banks in pools, and they often occur among emergent vegetation.