Etheostoma parvipinne
Gilbert and Swain 1887
Family Percidae

Lateral view of goldstripe darters
The photo above shows a breeding male, top, and a female, bottom, goldstripe darter. These fish were photographed in Calloway County, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Matthew R. Thomas

The goldstripe darter is a member of the perch and darter family. It has a very short, blunt snout, a small mouth and a reddish eye. The lateral line is light yellow and there are one or more black spots aligned vertically on the caudal fin base. The fins have thin black bands on the rays, and large males have a black spot at the front of the first dorsal fin and thin dark stripes on the rear half of the body. Goldstripe darters can be found in pools and backwaters of spring-fed headwaters and creeks.

Status & distribution

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