Crystallaria asprella
(Jordan 1878)
Family Percidae

Lateral view of a crystal darter
This crystal darter was collected from Santa Rosa County, Florida in 2017. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 191235. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The crystal darter is a member of the perch and darter family. It has a slender and elongate body and wide head and large dorsal and anal fins. There is a protruding snout ending in slightly subterminal mouth, and the body is nearly transparent body with green-brown mottling on the upper side. This species has a black stripe around the snout that is continuous from eye to eye. Crystal darters can be found in sandy and gravelly runs of small to medium rivers and is most commonly found in fast runs more than two feet deep.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central drainages
  • River Drainages — the Escambia River
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