Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Orangethroat Darter Etheostoma spectabile

Family
Percidae (Perches)
Tolerance
Sensitive
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Threatened
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 28 bioassessment sites, 6 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 0 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 28 distinct sites, or 1.9% of the 1513 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 83rd most commonly collected species.

The Orangethroat Darter was collected in 55 bioassessment sampling sessions and 0 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 6 rapid bioassessment sessions and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 900 individual Orangethroat Darter specimens, ranking it the #64 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

In breeding condition these fish are a colorful darter with a mottled body with blueish vertical bars and red blotches; as the name implies the gill area is bright orange.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found