The duskytail darter, listed as "Threatened," in Tennessee, is another
small fish. The largest adult will grow to 64 mm (2.5 inches). These fish
live at the bottom of gentle pools formed after streams flow over rocks.
The name "darter" describes well the way they swim--they seem almost to
hop from one point to another.
Duskytail darters have interesting breeding habits. The female turns upside down to lay her eggs (she deposits them on the underside of a rock), and stays that way until all the eggs are laid. She may remain upside down for as long as five hours!
Duskytail darters are found in the Little River of Blount County, Tennessee; Citico Creek in Monroe County, Tennessee; Copper Creek in Scott County, Virginia; and Station Camp Creek in Scott County, Tennessee.
Source: The Fishes of Tennessee, by David A. Etnier and Wayne C. Starnes. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press, 1993.
Photograph by J.R. Shute