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

Slenderhead Darter Percina phoxocephala

Family
Percidae (Perches)
Tolerance
Sensitive
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 123 bioassessment sites, 1 rapid fish bioassessment site, 37 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 159 distinct sites, or 10.5% of the 1511 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 42nd most commonly collected species.

The Slenderhead Darter was collected in 214 bioassessment sampling sessions and 58 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 1 rapid bioassessment session and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 1,789 individual Slenderhead Darter specimens, ranking it the #56 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Moderate in size, measuring about 3- to 4-inches long. The body is sand to yellowish-brown with a orange band below the margin of the spinous dorsal fin. The head is very slender, and the breast is covered by scales. There are 13 dorsal fin rays, 9 anal rays, and a small dark spot on each end of the lateral line.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found