Orangefin Darter in Focus

The orangefin darter (Nothonotus bellus or Etheostoma bellum) is an endemic fish to the Barren and Green river system. This small darter, like many darters, gets its name from its coloration. Males have bright orange fins throughout most of the year and during breeding season males will gain orange spots along their sides. Female orangefins are duller in color but still sport some orange. A notable feature in both males and females is the dark teardrop under the eye. No other darters in the local waters look like the orangefin darter so ID of the darter is made easy.

Photo by David Cravens

Photo by David Cravens

I have had luck finding these beautiful darters in the headwaters of the Barren river systems. I collected several of them out of West Forks Drake Creek. This small stream, like many of the streams in the area, is crystal clear. This clear water is result from the waters being spring fed and is one of the reasons that the creeks in the Portland area are so beautiful. I usually have had success finding this darter in a series of rocky, shallow riffles using a small seine net. During the hotter times of the summer months, I have found them in somewhat deeper riffles. When collecting for orangefin darters I also collected fantail darters (Etheostoma flabellare) has well has orangethroat darters (Etheostoma spectabile).

Photo by Jake Wade

Photo by Josh Blaylock

Orangefin darters spawn from late April until late June. When the female selects her male, she buries herself in the rocky substrate. The male darter lays beside the female dater and deposits his sperm in the rocks while the female does the same with her eggs. Eggs hatch between 7-9 days. Fish mature in 1-2 years and are thought to live up to 5 years.

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Photo by David Cravens