Etheostoma

Etheostoma is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Percidae, and within the subfamily Etheostomatinae, native to North America. Most are restricted to the United States, but species are also found in Canada and Mexico. They are commonly known as darters, although the term "darter" is shared by several other genera. Many can produce alarm pheromones that serve to warn nearby fish in case of an attack.

==Species== The 146 recognized species in this genus are arranged into 18 subgenera. Two former subgenera, Allohistium and Nothonotus have been promoted to full genera. 'Subgenus Belophlox''' Fowler, 1947 Etheostoma fricksium Hildebrand, 1923 (savannah darter) Etheostoma mariae (Fowler, 1947) (pinewoods darter) Etheostoma okaloosae (Fowler, 1941) (Okaloosa darter) 'Sugbenus Boleosoma' DeKay, 1842 Etheostoma longimanum D. S. Jordan, 1888 (longfin darter) Etheostoma maculaticeps (E. D. Cope, 1870) Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesque, 1820 (johnny darter) Etheostoma olmstedi D. H. Storer, 1842 (tessellated darter) Etheostoma perlongum C. L. Hubbs & Raney, 1946) (Waccamaw darter) Etheostoma podostemone D. S. Jordan & O. P. Jenkins, 1889 (riverweed darter) Etheostoma susanae (D. S. Jordan & Swain, 1883) (Cumberland darter) Etheostoma vexillare (D. S. Jordan, 1880) 'Sugbenus Catonotus' Agassiz, 1854 Etheostoma barbouri Kuehne & J. W. Small, 1971 (teardrop darter) Etheostoma basilare Page, Hardman & Near, 2003 (corrugated darter) Etheostoma brevispinum (Coker, 1926) (Carolina fantail darter) Etheostoma chienense Page & Ceas, 1992 (relict darter) Etheostoma corona Page & Ceas, 1992 (crown darter) Etheostoma crossopterum Braasch & Mayden, 1985 (fringed darter) Etheostoma cumberlandicum D. S. Jordan & Swain, 1883 Etheostoma derivativum Page, Hardman & Near, 2003 (stone darter) thumb|Fantail darter|E. flabellare Etheostoma flabellare Rafinesque, 1819 (fantail darter) Etheostoma forbesi Page & Ceas, 1992 (barrens darter) Etheostoma kennicotti (Putnam, 1863) (stripetail darter) Etheostoma lemniscatum Blanton, 2008 (tuxedo darter) Etheostoma marmorpinnum Blanton & R. E. Jenkins, 2008 (marbled darter) Etheostoma nebra Near & M. R. Thomas, 2015 (buck darter) Etheostoma neopterum W. M. Howell & Dingerkus, 1978 (lollipop darter) Etheostoma nigripinne Braasch & Mayden, 1985 (blackfin darter) Etheostoma obeyense Kirsch, 1892 (barcheek darter) Etheostoma olivaceum Braasch & Page, 1979 (sooty darter) Etheostoma oophylax Ceas & Page, 1992 (guardian darter) Etheostoma percnurum R. E. Jenkins, 1994 (duskytail darter) Etheostoma pseudovulatum Page & Ceas, 1992 (egg-mimic darter) Etheostoma sitikuense Blanton, 2008 (Citico darter) Etheostoma smithi Page & Braasch, 1976 (slabrock darter) Etheostoma squamiceps D. S. Jordan, 1877 (spottail darter) Etheostoma striatulum Page & Braasch, 1977 (striated darter) Etheostoma virgatum (D. S. Jordan, 1880) (striped darter) Etheostoma xanthovum Wood & Near, 2023 'Subgenus Doration' D.S. Jordan, 1929 Etheostoma akatulo Layman & Mayden, 2009 (bluemask darter) Etheostoma clinton Mayden & Layman, 2012 (beaded darter) Etheostoma gore Mayden & Layman, 2012 (Cumberland darter) Etheostoma jessiae (D. S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878) (blueside darter) thumb|Bluegrass darter|E. jimmycarteri''Etheostoma jimmycarter Mayden & Layman, 2012 (bluegrass darter) Etheostoma meadiae (D. S. Jordan & B. W. Evermann, 1898) Etheostoma obama Mayden & Layman, 2012 (spangled darter) Etheostoma stigmaeum (D. S. Jordan, 1877) (speckled darter) Etheostoma teddyroosevelt Mayden & Layman, 2012 (highland darter) 'Subgenus Etheostoma''' thumb|Greenside darter|E. blennioides''Etheostoma blennioides Rafinesque, 1819 (greenside darter) Etheostoma blennius C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887 (blenny darter) Etheostoma gutselli (Hildebrand, 1932) (Tuckasegee darter) Etheostoma histrio D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1887 (harlequin darter) Etheostoma inscriptum (D. S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878) (turquoise darter) Etheostoma lynceum O. P. Hay, 1885 (brighteye darter) Etheostoma rupestre C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887 (rock darter) Etheostoma swannanoa D. S. Jordan & Evermann, 1889 (Swannanoa darter) Etheostoma sequatchiense Burr, 1979 (Sequatchie darter) Etheostoma thalassinum (D. S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878) (seagreen darter) thumb|Etheostoma zonale|E. zonale Etheostoma zonale (Cope, 1868) (banded darter) 'Subgenus Fuscatelum''' Page, 1981 Etheostoma parvipinne C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887 (goldstripe darter) Etheostoma phytophilum Bart & M. S. Taylor, 1999 (rush darter) 'Subgenus Hololepis' Putnam, 1863 Etheostoma collis (C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935) (Carolina darter) Etheostoma fusiforme (Girard, 1854) (swamp darter) thumb|Etheostoma gracile|E. gracile''Etheostoma gracile (Girard, 1859) (slough darter) Etheostoma serrifer (C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935) (sawcheek darter) Etheostoma zonifer C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935) (backwater darter) 'Subgenus Ioa''' D.S. Jordan & Brayton, 1878 Etheostoma vitreum (Cope, 1870) (glassy darter) 'Subgenus Litocara' R.M. Bailey, 1948 Etheostoma nianguae C. H. Gilbert & Meek, 1887 (Niangua darter) Etheostoma sagitta (D. S. Jordan & Swain, 1883) (arrow darter) thumb|Kentucky arrow darter|E. spilotum''Etheostoma spilotum C. H. Gilbert, 1887 (Kentucky arrow darter, Cumberland Plateau darter) 'Subgenus Microperca''' Putnam, 1863 Etheostoma fonticola (D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1886) (fountain darter) Etheostoma microperca D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1888 (least darter) Etheostoma proeliare (O. P. Hay, 1881) (cypress darter) 'Subgenus Mooreichthys' R.R. Stephens, K.A. Johnson & M.P. Grady, 2014 Etheostoma sellare (Radcliffe & W. W. Welsh, 1913) (Maryland darter) 'Sugenus Oligocephalus' Girard, 1859 thumb|Redspot darter|E. artesiae''Etheostoma artesiae (O. P. Hay, 1881) (redspot darter) Etheostoma asprigene (S. A. Forbes, 1878) (mud darter) Etheostoma australe D. S. Jordan, 1889 (Conchos darter) thumb|Buffalo darter|E. bisonEtheostoma bison Ceas & Page, 1997 (buffalo darter) Etheostoma burri Ceas & Page, 1997 (brook darter) Etheostoma caeruleum D. H. Storer, 1845 (rainbow darter) Etheostoma collettei Birdsong & L. W. Knapp, 1969 (creole darter) Etheostoma cyanorum (Moore & Rigney, 1952) Etheostoma ditrema Ramsey & Suttkus, 1965 (coldwater darter) thumb|Etheostoma exile|E. exileEtheostoma exile (Girard, 1859) (Iowa darter) Etheostoma fragi Distler, 1968 (strawberry darter) Etheostoma grahami (Girard, 1859) (Rio Grande darter) Etheostoma hopkinsi (Fowler, 1945) (Christmas darter) Etheostoma kantuckeense Ceas & Page, 1997 (Highland Rim darter) Etheostoma lawrencei Ceas & Burr, 2002 (headwater darter) thumb|Greenthroat darter|E. lepidumEtheostoma lepidum (S. F. Baird & Girard, 1853) (greenthroat darter) Etheostoma lugoi S. M. Norris & W. L. Minckley, 1997 (tufa darter) Etheostoma luteovinctum C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887 (redband darter) Etheostoma nuchale W. M. Howell & R. D. Caldwell, 1965 (watercress darter) Etheostoma pottsii (Girard, 1859) (Chihuahua darter) Etheostoma radiosum (C. L. Hubbs & J. D. Black, 1941) (orangebelly darter) Etheostoma segrex S. M. Norris & W. L. Minckley, 1997 (Río Salado darter) thumb|Orangethroat darter|E. spectabile pulchellumEtheostoma spectabile (Agassiz, 1854) (orangethroat darter) Etheostoma swaini (D. S. Jordan, 1884) (Gulf darter) Etheostoma tecumsehi Ceas & Page, 1997 (Shawnee darter) Etheostoma thompsoni Suttkus, Bart & Etnier, 2012 (gumbo darter) Etheostoma uniporum Distler, 1968 (current darter) Etheostoma whipplei (Girard, 1859) (redfin darter) 'Subgenus Ozarka''' J.D. Williams & Robison, 1981 Etheostoma autumnale Mayden, 2010 (autumn darter) Etheostoma boschungi Wall & J. D. Williams, 1974 (slackwater darter) thumb|Etheostoma cragini|E. cragini''Etheostoma cragini C. H. Gilbert, 1885 (Arkansas darter) Etheostoma mihileze Mayden, 2010 (sunburst darter) Etheostoma pallididorsum Distler & Metcalf, 1962 (paleback darter) Etheostoma punctulatum (Agassiz, 1854) (stippled darter) Etheostoma trisella R. M. Bailey & W. J. Richards, 1963 (trispot darter) 'Subgenus Poecilichthys''' Agassiz, 1854 Etheostoma erythrozonum Switzer & R. M. Wood, 2009 (Meramec saddled darter) Etheostoma euzonum (C. L. Hubbs & J. D. Black, 1940) (Arkansas saddled darter) Etheostoma kanawhae (Raney, 1941) (Kanawha darter) thumb|Etheostoma osburni|E. osburni''Etheostoma osburni (C. L. Hubbs & Trautman, 1932) (candy darter) Etheostoma tetrazonum (C. L. Hubbs & J. D. Black, 1940) (Missouri saddled darter) Etheostoma variatum Kirtland, 1838 (variegated darter) 'Subgenus Psychromaster''' D.S. Jordan & Evermann, 1896 Etheostoma tuscumbia C. H. Gilbert & Swain, 1887 (Tuscumbia darter) 'Subgenus Ulocentra' D.S. Jordan, 1878 “Snubnose darters” Etheostoma atripinne (D. S. Jordan, 1877) (Cumberland snubnose darter) Etheostoma baileyi Page & Burr, 1982 (emerald darter) Etheostoma barrenense Burr & Page, 1982 (splendid darter) Etheostoma bellator Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1993 (warrior darter) Etheostoma birminghamense Brownstein, Kim, Wood, Alley, Stokes & Near, 2025 Etheostoma brevirostrum Suttkus & Etnier, 1991 (holiday darter) Etheostoma cervus Powers & Mayden, 2003 (Chickasaw darter) Etheostoma chermocki Boschung, Mayden & Tomelleri, 1992 (vermilion darter) Etheostoma colorosum Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1993 (coastal darter) Etheostoma coosae (Fowler, 1945) (Coosa darter) Etheostoma cyanoprosopum Near & Kozal, 2017 (blueface darter) Etheostoma duryi Henshall, 1889 (black darter) Etheostoma etnieri Bouchard, 1977 (cherry darter) thumb|Etheostoma faulkneri|E. faulkneri''Etheostoma faulkneri Sterling & Warren, 2020 (Yoknapatawpha darter) thumb|Saffron darter|E. flavum Etheostoma flavum Etnier & R. M. Bailey, 1989 (saffron darter) Etheostoma gurleyense Brownstein, Kim, Wood, Alley, Stokes & Near, 2025 Etheostoma kimberlae Mayden, 2025 Etheostoma lachneri Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1994 (Tombigbee darter) Etheostoma michellae Mayden, 2025 Etheostoma orientale Powers & Mayden, 2007 (East Rim darter) Etheostoma planasaxatile Powers & Mayden, 2007 (duck darter) Etheostoma pyrrhogaster R. M. Bailey & Etnier, 1988 (firebelly darter) Etheostoma rafinesquei Burr & Page, 1982 (Kentucky darter) Etheostoma ramseyi Suttkus & R. M. Bailey, 1994 (Alabama darter) thumb|Yazoo darter|E. raneyiEtheostoma raneyi Suttkus & Bart, 1994 (Yazoo darter) thumb|Cherokee darter|E. scottiEtheostoma scotti Bauer, Etnier & Burkhead, 1995 (Cherokee darter) Etheostoma simoterum (Cope, 1868) (snubnose darter) Etheostoma tallapoosae Suttkus & Etnier, 1991 (Tallapoosa darter) Etheostoma zonistium R. M. Bailey & Etnier, 1988 (bandfin darter) 'Subgenus Vaillantia''' D.S. Jordan, 1878 Etheostoma chlorosoma (O. P. Hay, 1881) (bluntnose darter) Etheostoma davisoni O. P. Hay, 1885 (Choctawhatchee darter) 'Subgenus Villora' Hubbs & Cannon, 1935 Etheostoma edwini (C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935) (brown darter) Synonyms Etheostoma occidentale Powers & Mayden, 2007 (West Rim darter); valid as E. atripinne Etheostoma saludae (C. L. Hubbs & Cannon, 1935) (saluda darter); valid as E. collis Etheostoma tennesseense Powers & Mayden, 2007 (Tennessee darter); valid as E. simoterum''