Redfin

REDFIN DARTER

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Etheostoma whipplei

CHARACTERISTICS: The redfin darter is one of the largest Etheostoma species in Alabama. Individuals have a broad frenum on the upper lip and a small pointed head. The back and sides of the body are a mottled light olive; the lower head, breast, and gill membrane areas are white. The sides of breeding males are adorned with various sizes of distinctive large red dots. The venter is red-orange in breeding males, the pelvic fins are blue, and the pectoral fins are clear. Both dorsal fins are quite colorful, with a blue margin followed by thin white, red, clear, and red bands, and ending in a white band at the fin base. The caudal and anal fins are similar with blue margins, a thin white band, followed by red then white bands. The caudal fin has a light blue base.

ADULT SIZE: 1.8 to 3.7 in (45 to 95 mm)

DISTRIBUTION: Etheostoma whipplei occurs in western tributaries to the lower Mississippi River and in Gulf slope drainages from the Sabine to the Mobile basin. The redfin darter is common throughout the Tombigbee and Alabama river drainages, including the Black Warrior and Cahaba river systems. It is absent from the upper Coosa and upper Tallapoosa river systems and from streams draining the Fall Line Hills, except in localized preferred habitats. Several isolated populations are known from Halawakee Creek in the Chattahoochee River drainage.

HABITAT AND BIOLOGY: Etheostoma whipplei inhabits riffles and pools in small to medium-sized streams, over a variety of substrates including slabrock, cobble, rubble, gravel, sand, and silt. When these habitat components are missing, such as in the Coastal Plain, individuals gather around log and debris snags and rooted aquatic vegetation. Our observations indicate spawning from late March to early April. Suttkus’ field notes report March 1992 collections of female redfin darters running eggs at Salt Creek in Clarke County. Heins and Machado (1993) report spawning from late February to mid-May in Alabama. The diet includes insect larvae and small crustaceans (Miller and Robison, 1973).

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Girard described redfin darter in 1859.

ETYMOLOGY:
Etheostoma means strain mouth, possibly referring to small mouth.
Whipplei is in honor of A. W. Whipple, leader of the survey party that first collected this species.  

The copyrighted information above is from Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division protects this fish from capture or possession.

Note: In Alabama, it is illegal to stock or move any fish, mussel, snail or crayfish to any public water without a permit.

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