Etheostoma colorosum
Suttkus and Bailey 1993
Family Percidae

Lateral view of coastal darters
The photo above shows a breeding male, top, and female, bottom, coastal darter. These fish are now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection. Top: UF 237647 Bottom: UF 237740 Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The coast darter is a member of the perch and darter family. It has a blunt snout, subterminal mouth, no premaxillary frenum and a complete lateral line. The body is light brown on the back and upper side, often with eight brown saddles and between seven and nine brown blotches on the side just below the lateral line. There are five branchiostegal rays. Coastal darters can be found in sandy and gravelly pools of headwaters, creeks and small rivers.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central drainages
  • River Drainages — Perdido River, Escambia River, Blackwater River, Yellow River and the Choctawhatchee River
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