About Tessellated Darter

The tessellated darter is a small, sprightly relative of the yellow perch whose rapid movement along stream bottoms gives it its common name. It has a slender, olive-colored body, 2-4 inches long. The eyes are set close together on top of the head. It has a short snout and sides are irregularly marked with 8 or more X-Y shaped blotches. Dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins are spotted and barred with black. Pelvic and anal fins are black in breeding males.