Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Johnny Darter

Etheostoma nigrum

Rafinesque, 1820

Johnny Darter

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100152
Element CodeAFCQC02490
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderPerciformes
FamilyPercidae
GenusEtheostoma
Synonyms
Boleosoma nigrum(Rafinesque, 1820)Etheostoma nigrum nigrum
Other Common Names
Raseux-de-terre noir (FR)
Concept Reference
Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Etheostoma susanae formerly was regarded as a subspecies of E. nigrum; mtDNA data support recognition of the two as distinct species (Strange 1998).

E. nigrum formerly included E. olmstedi as a subspecies (Lee et al. 1980). See Chapleau and Pageau (1985) for relationship between nigrum and olmstedi in Canada.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2015-08-17
Change Date1996-09-23
Edition Date2011-12-21
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Range Extent Comments
Range includes the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi River basins, from Hudson Bay to southern Mississippi and from Quebec and Virginia to Saskatchewan and Colorado; Atlantic Slope in James, Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse river drainages, Virginia and North Carolina; Gulf Slope in Mobile Bay drainage, Alabama and Mississippi; introduced in Colorado River drainage, Colorado (Page and Burr 2011).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This darter is most often found over sand or silt in quiet or sluggish areas of headwaters, creeks, and small to medium rivers (Leidy 1992, Page and Burr 1991), less often over gravel or in weedy areas of lakes or sandy lake shallows (Page 1983); sometimes in pools over bedrock (Kuehne and Barbour 1983). In Colorado, it occurs most often in shallow, slow-velocity water over cobble-sand substrate (Propst and Carlson 1989). Eggs are laid on the underside of a stone or other object.

Reproduction

Spawns April-June over most of range, but spawning peaks July to early August in Colorado (Propst and Carlson 1989); spawns mid-March to mid-May at southern limit of range in Mississippi (Parrish et al. 1991). Male guards eggs, which in Michigan hatch in 16 days in April, 10 days in May, and 6 days in June. Several females may contribute to egg mass of each male. Sexually mature in 1 year (Page 1983). In Colorado, few survived past age III (Propst and Carlson 1989).
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS5Yes
QuebecS4Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
SaskatchewanS5Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
KentuckyS4Yes
IndianaS5Yes
New YorkS4Yes
NebraskaS4Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
IllinoisS5Yes
MichiganS5Yes
UtahSNANo
VirginiaS4Yes
North CarolinaS4Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
MarylandS3Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
WisconsinS5Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
WyomingS4Yes
MississippiS5Yes
ArkansasS2Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
TennesseeS5Yes
IowaS5Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
AlabamaS5Yes
KansasS3Yes
OhioS5Yes
MissouriSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
No known threats———

—

Roadless Areas (1)
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
References (49)
  1. Atz, James W. 1940. Reproductive behavior in the eastern johnny darter, <i>Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi</i> (Storer). Copeia (2):100-106.
  2. Baxter, G. T., and J. R. Simon. 1970. Wyoming fishes. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 168 pp.
  3. Becker, G. C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 1,052 pp.
  4. Buchanan, Thomas M. (Department of Biology. Westark College AR). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, TNC. March 2000.
  5. Burr, B. M., and M. L. Warren, Jr. 1986a. Distributional atlas of Kentucky fishes. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Scientific and Technical Series No. 4, Frankfort, Kentucky. 398 pp.
  6. Burr, Brooks M. (Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University) and Donovan B. Henry. 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. June 2000.
  7. Chapleau, F., and G. Pageau. 1985. Morphological differentiation of <i>Etheostoma olmstedi</i> and <i>E. nigrum</i> (Pisces: Percidae) in Canada. Copeia 1985:855-865.
  8. Cooper, E. L. 1983. Fishes of Pennsylvania and the northeastern United States. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park. 243 pp.
  9. Cross, F. B., and J. T. Collins. 1995. Fishes in Kansas. Second Edition, revised. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. xvii + 315 pp.
  10. Daniels, Robert (Biological Survey, New York State Museum). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. June 2000.
  11. Eberle, Mark (Fort Hays State University, KS). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. April 2000.
  12. Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. xiv + 681 pp.
  13. Fago, D. 2000. Relative abundance and distribution of fishes in Wisconsin. Fish Distribution Database to year 2000. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  14. Harlan, J. R., E. B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.
  15. Hrabik, Robert A. (Missouri Department of Conservation). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. May 1997.
  16. Jenkins, R. E., and N. M. Burkhead. 1994. Freshwater fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. xxiii + 1079 pp.
  17. Kuehne, R. A., and R. W. Barbour. 1983. The American Darters. University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. 177 pp.
  18. Lang, Nicholas (Illinois Natural History Survey). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.
  19. Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
  20. Leidy, R. A. 1992. Microhabitat selection by the johnny darter, <i>Etheostoma nigrum</i> Rafinesque, in a Wyoming stream. Great Basin Naturalist 52:68-74.
  21. Master, L. L. and A. L. Stock. 1998. Synoptic national assessment of comparative risks to biological diversity and landscape types: species distributions. Summary Report submitted to Environmental Protection Agency. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA. 36 pp.
  22. Matthews, William J. (Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. June 2000.
  23. Menhinick, E. F. 1991. The freshwater fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 227 pp.
  24. Mettee, M. F., P. E. O'Neil, and J. M. Pierson. 1996. Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Oxmoor House, Birmingham, Alabama. 820 pp.
  25. Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
  26. Nesler, Tom (Colorado Division of Wildlife). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, TNC. May 2000.
  27. Owen, J. B., D. S. Elsen and G. W. Russell. 1981. Distribution of fishes in North and South Dakota basins affected by the Garrison Diversion Unit. University of North Dakota Press, Grand Forks, North Dakota. 211 pp.
  28. Page, L. M. 1983a. Handbook of Darters. T. F. H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. 271 pp.
  29. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
  30. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  31. Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
  32. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  33. Parrish, J. D., D. C. Heins, and J. A. Baker. 1991. Reproductive season, clutch parameters and oocyte size of the johnny darter <i>Etheostoma nigrum</i> from southwestern Misssissippi. American Midland Naturalist 126:180-186.
  34. Patton, Tim M. (Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Oklahoma University). 2001. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps of Wyoming. Review requested by Pilar Hernandez, ABI. April 2000.
  35. Pflieger, W. L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation. Columbia, Missouri. viii + 343 pp.
  36. Propst, D. L., and C. A. Carlson. 1989. Life history notes and distribution of the johnny darter, <i>Etheostoma nigrum</i> (Percidae), in Colorado. Southwestern Naturalist 34:250-259.
  37. Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
  38. Robison, H. W. and T. M. Buchanan. 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. The University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, Arkansas. 536 pp.
  39. Ross, S. T., and W. M. Brenneman. 1991. Distribution of freshwater fishes in Mississippi. Freshwater Fisheries Report No. 108. D-J Project Completion Report F-69. Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and Parks. Jackson, Mississippi. 548 pp.
  40. Ross, Stephen T. (University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Biological Sciences). 2001. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI.
  41. Scott, W. B., and E. J. Crossman. 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Bulletin 184. 966 pp.
  42. Smart, H.J. and J.H. Gee. 1979. Coexistence and resource partitioning in two species of darters (Percidae), <i>Etheostoma nigrum</i> and <i>Percina maculata</i>. Canadian Journal of Zoology 57:2061-2071.
  43. Smith, C. L. 1983. Fishes of New York (maps and printout of a draft section on scarce fishes of New York). Unpublished draft.
  44. Smith, C. L. 1985. The inland fishes of New York State. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, New York, xi + 522 pp.
  45. Smith, P. W. 1979. The fishes of Illinois. University of Illinois Press, Urbana. 314 pp.
  46. Starnes, W. C. 1995. Taxonomic validation for fish species on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Category 2 species list. 28 pp.
  47. Stauffer, J. R., Jr., J. M. Boltz, and L. R. White. 1995. The fishes of West Virginia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 146:1-389.
  48. Strange, R. M. 1998. Mitochondrial DNA variation in johnny darters (Pisces: Percidae) from eastern Kentucky supports stream capture for the origin of Upper Cumberland River fishes. American Midland Naturalist 140:96-102.
  49. Trautman, M. B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Second edition. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, Ohio. 782 pp.