Etheostoma proeliare
(Hay 1881)
Family Percidae

Lateral view of cypress darters
The photo above shows a breeding male, top, and a female, bottom, cypress darter. These fish are now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 190926. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The cypress darter is a member of the perch and darter family. It has very shallow pores and a strongly arched lateral line. This species has a slender, yellow-brown body. There are black or brown dashes along the midside of the body and rows of black spots and “Xs” on the lower side. There is also a black spot at the caudal fin base, and large males have black anal and pelvic fins and a large lateral flap on the pelvic fin; short snout and terminal mouth. Cypress darters can be found in vegetated backwaters and pools of creeks and small rivers.

Status & distribution

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