Speckled Darter

Speckled darters, Etheostoma stigmaeum, are a member of the family Percidae. They have a moderately blunt snout, with no premaxillary frenum. They can reach a maximum length of about 2.2 inches. They have both spines and rays, their lateral line is incomplete, and their gill covers are slightly connected by a membrane across their throat. The midline of their belly does not have enlarged scales. They have a sandy colored dorsal side and a yellow or white ventral side. There are 6 dark brown saddles and large specks on the dorsum, with 7–11 dark brown blotches down their body. Mating males have turquoise colored bands on their sides and in their fins, as opposed to the typical dark blue. Breeding females are much less brightly colored than the males. They develop extended genital papilla.

Speckled darters are freshwater fish. They prefer clear pools of up to 1 m deep, with moderately swift streams. They typically prefer a bottom of sand or sand and gravel.

Spawning in Missouri begins as early as March and ends as late as May, at temperatures between 57°F and 62°F. The eggs are buried in substrate, where there is a relationship between temperature and incubation period, with higher temperatures lessening the time. Typical incubation period is about 9–10 days at about 62–68°F. Larvae hatch at about 4.2-5.2 mm with a functional jaw and well developed pectoral fins.

The scientific name for the speckled darter is Etheostoma stigmaeum. Etheostoma is derived from the etheo, the Greek word for "to strain", and stoma, the Greek word for "mouth". Stigmaeum is the Greek word for "speckled".