ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Fish - Johnny Darter

Johnny Darter

The johnny darter is the most common and widespread of the darters in Ohio. It is not as sensitive as other species of darters to increased turbidity (murky water) and will tolerate some siltation of its habitat.

Johnny Darter
Etheostoma nigrum

At-a-Glance

• Family: Percidae (Perches and darters)

• Other Names: None

• Ohio Status: No special status

• Adult Size: Typically 1.5-2.5 inches, can reach slightly over 3 inches.

• Typical Foods: Chironomid (midge fly larvae) and other aquatic insect larvae.
Description
Johnny darters can be identified by the series of black "w" or "x" shapes scattered across their sides. Some of these marks line up along the lateral line giving the appearance of a broken lateral stripe. Another key feature is they have no bright colors, like many other darter species, only brown or black markings on a lighter background. They have many dark speckles on both dorsal fins and the tail. Their snout does not stick out past the upper jaw. Breeding males can have an almost black head, fins, and several black bars along their side. Johnny darters are similar in appearance to greenside and channel darters in Ohio. Greenside darters can have bright green on their sides, a red band in the first dorsal fin, and their snout over hangs the upper jaw. The channel darter is only found in very large rivers and has a dashed stripe along the lateral line formed by oblong solid markings.

Habitat and Habits
The Johnny darter inhabits streams and rivers of all sizes where it is found in pools and other slack water habitats on sand and gravel substrates. They are also one of two darter species often found in Ohio's many reservoirs the other is the logperch darter. In reservoirs they are usually found along the shore of sand swimming beaches.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Johnny darters spawn on the underside of flat rocks in the spring. Males prepare a nest site and females lay 30-100 eggs. Several females may spawn in the nest site of a single male. The male then stays to guard the eggs until they hatch.