Species Identity
Etheostoma collis is the name used for this account. Darters can be difficult to separate from photographs, so retain an exact stream location and clear views rather than naming a fish from habitat alone.
Size
The six-centimeter published maximum includes the tail. The smaller common reference length shows why a fish of only an inch and a half need not be dismissed as an unidentified juvenile.
Quiet-Water Habitat
The reported habitat includes muddy or rocky pools and backwaters of sluggish headwaters and creeks. That range of bottom materials is worth recording when documenting a sighting.
A Darter of Slower Water
The useful habitat clue is the quiet pocket within a creek. Fast-water assumptions can make this kind of small fish easy to overlook.
All Lakes With Carolina Darter
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Carolina Darter records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.