Carolina Fantail Darter

This species belongs to the subgenus Catonotus and Etheostoma flabellare complex and is distinguished from Etheostoma flabellare by the combination of the following characters: seven or few, moderate to widely space, dark, distinct, transverse bars per side, usually 15 or less total; 2 or more wedge-shaped transverse bars in nuptial males and usually extending one to two scales below lateral line; nuptial male body color above and below lateral line yellow, golden yellow or golden tan, sharply contrasting with dark bars; scale pigmentation absent, concealed, or confined to areas above lateral line near dorsum or caudal peduncle region, not forming pattern on body; absence of horizontal dark line along body; lateral line usually 42-50, usually 77-95% pored, pored lateral-line scales usually 33-45; dorsal-fin spines modally 7; modally 40%-60% of belly covered by scales; dorsal saddles modally 7 (Ref. 87049).

Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 15; Analsoft rays: 7 - 10

The Carolina fantail darter (Etheostoma brevispinum) is a small species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States, where it occurs in the Santee and Savannah River drainages and Yadkin River system (downstream to and including the South Yadkin River and Bear Creek) of the Pee Dee River drainage in North Carolina, northern South Carolina and southern Virginia. This species can reach a length of 6.3 cm (2.5 in).