The darters, anhingas, or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae, which contains a single genus, Anhinga. There are four living species, three of which are very common and widespread while the fourth is rarer and classified as near-threatened by the IUCN. Explore a range of custom & franchise clothing from Darter Specialties.

Understanding the Context

Quality, style & competitive pricing. Ships in 1 to 3 Business Days Nationwide! darter, any of about 100 species of small, slender freshwater fishes constituting the subfamily Etheostominae of the family Percidae (order Perciformes; sometimes given family standing as the Etheostomidae). All the darters are native to eastern North America.

Key Insights

Darters have been described as the hummingbirds of the fish world: colorful, small, and quick. Missouri has about 44 different types of darters. They are most diverse in the fast, clear, rocky streams of the Ozarks. The darter is a small, highly diverse group of freshwater fish found across the rivers and streams of North America. These animals belong to one of the largest families of vertebrates on the continent, encompassing hundreds of unique species.

Final Thoughts

Spotted Darter and Tippecanoe Darter were recorded for the first time from the East Fork White River and Wabash River, respectively. Of the species sampled, Gilt Darter and Variegate Darter maintain the most restricted ranges in the state. Yale researchers have discovered two new species of darter β€” small, colorful freshwater fishes β€” inhabiting short stretches of creeks and streams in central Alabama. And they already know that both species are critically imperiled. Darters are a group of fishes found only in the eastern reaches of North America, from Northern Mexico to Southern and Eastern Canada.