Image source: indianaspeciesfishing | inaturalist.org
The stripetail darter (Etheostoma kennicotti) is endemic to the eastern United States. It is found in small rivers and streams in the states of Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. This fish feeds on midge larvae and other small invertebrates. It breeds in the spring; eggs are attached to the substrate, often under slab rocks, where they are guarded by the male. The population trend of this fish seems to be stable and it is a common species with numerous sub-populations over a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern. The stripetail darter males are golden orange and as adults can grow up to 2.8 inches (7.1 cm) long. It also has black bands present on the caudal fins and soft dorsal fins. Currently, the stripetail darter inhabits tributaries of the Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, and Paint Rock river systems. The Green River drainage in Kentucky also contains a population of stripetail darters. The Paint Rock river system and Ohio River systems hold the largest populations of the species and it is less common throughout the Tennessee River system.
