Cumberland Darter

This species is distinguished by the following characters: the breeding male with spinous dorsal fin with blue marginal and submedial bands, orange medial band, basal band with bright orange pigment; soft dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins with distinct bright orange spots on rays; the soft dorsal and anal fins has blue in base of fin and the anal fin with distinct orange spots on rays; the face and lower head tangerine orange with blue on operculum, preoperculum, cheek, and suborbital bar (not on lips and mid-gular region); quadrate lateral blue blotches extend ventrad from lateral line scale row; basicaudal blue bar extending from dorsal to ventral margin of caudal fin; absence of frenum; incomplete lateral line, unpored scales modally greater than 10 (11); cheek naked or nearly naked.; no palatine teeth; dorsal fin with spines modally 12 and soft rays modally 11; anal fin soft rays modally 8-9; pectoral fin rays modally 14; principal caudal fin rays modally 15; caudal peduncle scales modally 16; preoperculomandibular canal pores modally 10 (Ref. 92294).

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 5 - 10

Etheostoma gore (Cumberland darter) is a freshwater fish found in Kentucky and Tennessee in the Cumberland River drainage below Cumberland Falls. It was named after the 45th vice-president of the United States, Al Gore, for his environmental vision, commitment, and accomplishments throughout decades of public service and his role in educating the public and raising awareness on the issue of global climate change.