Etheostoma stigmaeum (Jordan, 1877)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Etheostoma stigmaeum, commonly called the speckled darter, is a species in the family Percidae.

Snout and Oral Structure

This fish has a moderately blunt snout and lacks a premaxillary frenum.

Maximum Length

It reaches a maximum total length of approximately 2.2 inches.

Fin and Lateral Line Characteristics

Speckled darters have both fin spines and fin rays, an incomplete lateral line, and gill covers that are slightly connected by a membrane stretching across the throat.

Belly Scale Morphology

The midline of the belly has no enlarged scales.

Base Body Coloration

Their dorsal side is sandy in color, while their ventral side is yellow or white.

Body Marking Patterns

Six dark brown saddles and large specks mark the dorsum, and 7 to 11 dark brown blotches run along the length of the body.

Breeding Male Coloration

Males in breeding condition develop turquoise bands on their sides and fins, instead of the species' typical dark blue coloration.

Breeding Female Traits

Breeding females are far less brightly colored than breeding males, and they develop an extended genital papilla.

Water Type

The speckled darter is a freshwater fish.

Habitat Preferences

It prefers clear, up to 1 meter deep pools in moderately swift streams, and it typically lives over bottoms made of sand, or a mix of sand and gravel.

Geographic Distribution

This species is distributed across eastern Oklahoma, southeastern Kansas, western Louisiana, Virginia, northwestern Georgia, and western Florida; it also occurs in Gulf of Mexico drainages from the Sabine River to Pensacola Bay.

Missouri Spawning Period

In Missouri, spawning occurs as early as March and as late as May, when water temperatures range between 57°F and 62°F.

Egg Deposition Behavior

Females bury their eggs in the substrate.

Incubation Temperature Correlation

Incubation period is correlated with water temperature: higher temperatures reduce the length of incubation.

Typical Incubation Duration

At temperatures between 62°F and 68°F, the typical incubation period lasts 9 to 10 days.

Newly Hatched Larvae Traits

Larvae hatch at a length of 4.2 to 5.2 mm, with a functional jaw and well-developed pectoral fins.