• Characteristics - in breeding condition these fish are extremely colorful darter with a mottled body with blueish vertical bars and red blotches; as the name implies the gill area is bright orange
• Distribution - extremly limited in Iowa, found mostly in Linn, Louisa and Des Moines counties
• Foods - chironomids, tiny crustaceans, small insect larvae
• Expert's Tip - darters play an important role in aquatic food chains and are some of the most colorful fish in Iowa

For more orangethroat darter information, see our printable pdf (110K) or Iowa Fish & Fishing.