Fantail darter

Characteristics

sand to brown in color with a small dark spot on each scale, can tolerate very low oxygen levels for short periods

Distribution

commonly collected in streams throughout northeast Iowa

Foods

midge larvae, isopods, amphipods and other aquatic insects

State Record

2 inches

Expert Tip

Details

The fantail darter ranges from southern Quebec across the southern Great Lakes to the head of the Mississippi basin in Wisconsin and Minnesota, southward to northern Arkansas, and eastward throughout the Ohio River basin. Collections are fairly common in streams throughout the northeast region of Iowa.

The fantail darter is a slender species typically about 2 inches in length. The spinous dorsal fin is low with tips on dorsal spines forming fleshy knobs in adult males. Body color is sand to brown with a small dark spot on each scale. The dorsal fin rays number 12 to 14, and the anal rays are 7 to 9. Scale numbers along the lateral line are usually more than 50.

The fantail darter occupies riffles with gravel or rubble substrate. In large streams it may be found in shallow areas away from the main current. It appears to have the ability to tolerate very low oxygen levels for short periods, thereby aiding its survival during periods of low flow.

Spawning begins in spring as males establish and defend territories around rocks which have a slight clearance above the substrate. The spiny dorsal fin is used to clean the underside of the rock. A female moves under the rock and lays an average of 38 eggs. Spawning position is head to tail, the female inverted and the male upright except at the moment of fertilization. About 450 eggs per female are laid, several spawnings with the same or different males being common.

Midge larvae and other aquatic insects tend to be the primary food items of this species. Isopods and amphipods may be quite important seasonally.

Return

Present in these Iowa water bodies:

Lake/Stream	County	Location	Acres/Length
Yellow River	Allamakee	T96N, R6W, S3 to T96N, R4W, S24	25.00
Paint Creek	Allamakee	Located in Yellow River State Forest, 3 miles west of Harpers Ferry off of State Forest Road or CR B25.	11.00
Waterloo Creek	Allamakee	Streams runs through Dorchester along Waterloo Creek Drive and Highway 76.	10.50
Bloody Run Creek	Clayton	Located 2 miles west of Marquette off of Highway 18.	6.50
North Bear Creek	Winneshiek	Located 2.5 miles northeast of Highlandville.	6.00
South Bear Creek	Winneshiek	Located at Highlandville.	5.20
Sny Magill Creek	Clayton	Located in the Sny Magill Wildlife Management Area, 3 miles southwest of McGregor along Keystone Road.	5.00
Little Paint	Allamakee	Located in Yellow River State Forest, 3 miles west of Harpers Ferry just off of State Forest Road or CR B25.	3.00
Pine Creek	Allamakee	Located on Pine Creek Wildlife Management Area, 2 miles northeast of Sattre on Balsam Road or CR W60.	2.50
Wapsi River Trout Section	Mitchell	Located 0.5 mile west of McIntire.	2.50
Turtle Creek	Mitchell	Located about 1/2 mile north of St. Ansgar off of Highway 218.	2.20
Upper Swiss Valley Creek	Dubuque	Located 3 miles south of Dubuque near Swiss Valley Nature Center, just off Swiss Valley Road	2.10
Burr Oak Creek	Mitchell	Stream located just north of Osage. T98N, R16W, S4, 5, 9, 10	2.00
North Cedar Creek	Clayton	Located 3 miles west of McGregor off of CR B60 or Ivory Road.	2.00
Brush Creek	Jackson	Located 2 miles norteast of Andrew just south of 261st street.	1.90
White Pine Hollow	Dubuque	This fishery is located primarily within White Pine Hollow State preserve, about 2 miles northwest of Luxemburg. Access to this fishery is difficult. A small parking area is available on the east side of the preserve. Best fishing is on the west side.	1.80
Buck Creek	Clayton	Located 3 miles northeast of Garnavillo.	1.70
Hewett and Ensign Creeks (Ensign Hollow)	Clayton	Located on Ensign Hollow Wildlife Management Area about 5 miles north of Strawberry Point. Access is provided on the north side of 322nd street.	1.30
Grimes Hollow	Delaware	1.5 mile east of Colesburg off Hubbard Road. T90N-R3W; Sections 2, 3.	1.20
Little Turkey River	Delaware	3 miles east of Colesburg in Hoffman Wildlife Managment Area off Hubbard Road	1.20
Bear Creek	Fayette	Located 6 miles southeast of Fayette off of Kornhill Road or CR C24. Access from 128th Street.	1.20
Tete des Morts River	Jackson	Located near St. Donatus. T87N, R3E, S4	1.10
Mink Creek	Fayette	Located on private property 1.5 miles north of Wadena, access on Bighorn Road.	0.90
Big Mill Creek	Jackson	Located on Big Mill Wildlife Management Area, 4.5 miles west of Bellevue just south of Mill Creek Road.	0.90
Twin Bridges	Delaware	Just south of Highway 3 about 5.5 miles west of Colesburg in Twin Bridges County Park	0.90
Miners Creek	Clayton	Stream is located west of Guttenberg. T92N, R2W, S7, 18 and T29N, R3W, S12	0.80
Lower Swiss Valley Creek	Dubuque	Located 3 miles south of Dubuque in Swiss Valley Park just off Swiss Valley Road	0.80
Spring Creek	Mitchell	Located on the west edge of Orchard.	0.80
Little Mill Creek	Jackson	Located on Little Mill Wildlife Managment Area and private property 2 miles west of Bellevue, with parking south off 216th street.	0.70
Bankston Creek	Dubuque	Just south of Park Hollow Road, 3 miles north of Bankston in Bankston County Park	0.60
Baileys Ford	Delaware	3 miles southeast of Manchester - follow signage from Jefferson Road.	0.60
South Cedar Creek	Clayton	Located 2 miles south of Garnavillo and may be accessed from Jigsaw Road.	0.50
Mossy Glen	Clayton	5 miles northwest of Edgewood at the termination of the Level B portion of Eagle Ave. Road damage from weather has made access to this site difficult for all vehicles. Not recommended for low-clearance or 2-wheel drives.	0.50
Bohemian Creek	Winneshiek	Located about 1.5 miles east of Protivin.	0.30
Monastery Creek	Dubuque	Monastery Creek can be accessed through the Dubuque County Swiss Valley Nature Preserve about 4 miles SW of Dubuque off of Swiss Valley Rd.	0.20