The tessellated darter's slender body is irregularly marked with eight or more X- or Y-shaped blotches. (Kerry Wixted/Flickr)
The tessellated darter is a small, sprightly relative of the yellow perch whose rapid movement along stream bottoms gives it its common name. It is a frequent find in the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.
Appearance:
Slender, olive-colored body two to four inches long
Eyes set close together on top of low head
Short snout
Sides irregularly marked with eight or more X- or Y-shaped blotches
Two dorsal fins, the first arched with eight to 10 spines and the second higher than the first
Dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins spotted and barred with black
Pelvic and anal fins black in breeding males
Habitat:
Found in both fast-flowing and quiet, standing waters, often on sand or mud bottoms or under rocks or pebbles
Range:
Common in all tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
Found from St. Lawrence Seaway west to Lake Ontario and south to Florida
Feeding:
Jerks quickly along stream bottoms from one spot to the next in search of food. This rapid movement gives the fish its common name
Feeds on small crustaceans, insects and insect larvae, snails and algae
Predators:
Large fish, turtles and fish-eating birds like kingfishers or herons
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Spawning occurs in spring
Adhesive eggs are deposited on underside and side of rocks, logs, shells or other debris
Female abandons nest and male remains to guard and aerate eggs, fanning the water with his tail or swimming over the eggs and brushing them with his pectoral fins
One male nests under a single stone, unless a scarcity of nesting sites forces males to share
Hatching takes place after about 21 days
Can exceed three years of age
Other Facts:
No recreational or commercial value, except as food source for larger species
