Slenderhead darter

Characteristics

Moderate in size, measuring about 3- to 4-inches long. The body is sand to yellowish-brown with a orange band below the margin of the spinous dorsal fin. The head is very slender, and the breast is covered by scales. There are 13 dorsal fin rays, 9 anal rays, and a small dark spot on each end of the lateral line.

Distribution

Throughout the Mississippi River basin.

Foods

Dipteran, mayfly, and caddisfly larvae

State Record

State Records are not documented for non-game species.

Expert Tip

None

Details

The Slenderhead Darter prefers medium-sized creeks to large rivers with strong flow and gravel, rubble, or bedrock riffles. It is common in the Des Moines, Cedar and Wapsipinicon drainages in Iowa. Throughout its range the slenderhead remains common, although siltation from agricultural practices has covered the gravel riffles of many of our streams, eliminating the species locally.

Questions remain about the spawning activities of this species, but it is believed it occurs in late May to mid-June over gravel riffles.

Recent stream sampling information is available from Iowa DNR's biological monitoring and assessment program.