About Etheostoma squamiceps Jordan, 1877
Common Name
Etheostoma squamiceps, commonly called the spottail darter, gets its common name from the three distinct spots located at the base of its caudal fin.
Size
This species can grow to a maximum total length of 8.8 centimeters (3.5 inches), though most individuals only reach an approximate total length of 4.6 centimeters (1.8 inches).
Habitat
Spottail darters live in quiet rocky pools in headwaters, creeks, and small rivers. Their preferred habitats have bottoms made of either large flat rocks or solid bedrock.
Shelter and Movement
Individual fish hide in rock crevices and under ledges. When pool water levels drop too low to provide sufficient cover in late summer, spottail darters may move into quiet riffles.
Spawning
Females lay their eggs on the undersides of flat slab stones in shallow pools.
