Slackwater Darter Coloring Page

Slackwater Darter (Etheostoma boschungi)
The slackwater darter is a small fish found in only a few streams of Alabama and
Tennessee that drain into the Tennessee River. Most darters are found in streams where
fast water is flowing over a rocky area, and a few darters are found around vegetation in
quiet areas of springs or swamps. However, the slackwater darter lives in the pools of
streams during most of the year. During breeding season, it uses flooded lowland areas
with spring seepage and vegetation to spawn.*
A slackwater darter has three distinct saddles on its back, and it may have one or
two light saddles.* A male slackwater darter has a wide dark line below its eyes. The
breeding male has a deep orange to orange-gold on their breast, gill membranes, cheeks
and mouth; while the upper half of the body is dark. The breeding female is dark above
and light below with little or no orange color.
Private landowners who care for their land play an important role assuring that
wildlife and the places they live remain for future generations to enjoy. A slackwater
darter seems to tolerate streams where the adjacent lowland is used for light grazing, but
it does not have breeding areas if the adjacent lowland is farmed for row crops or if the
wet area is converted into a pond. Wildlife conservation is solidly rooted in science and
balances the needs of both wildlife and people.
*Vocabulary
Breeding – ready to reproduce.
Saddle – darker area on the back of a fish.
Spawn – lay eggs.
www.OutdoorAlabama.com
The drawing is original artwork by Julie Harris Mitchell. The photograph and some of the information are from Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin.