The Southern tessellated darter is a small brown fish that can reach lengths of four inches (10.2 centimeters). Both sexes have 9-11 dark βXβ or βYβ shaped marks on their side. Breeding males have a larger second dorsal fin than females (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001).
Habitat & Range
The Southern tessellated darter can be found in coastal streams from the Cape Fear River drainage in North Carolina to the St. Johns River in Florida (Cole 1967, Rohde et al. 2009, Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001). In Florida, the population is found in portions of the North Central part of the state.
Life History
The diet of Southern tessellated darters primarily consists of small fish, crustaceans, and insects (Gilbert 1992).
Tessellated darters are thought to begin breeding from January to February, with the females capable of holding 340 eggs (Gilbert 1992). Females lay eggs on rocks or hard substrates with smooth undersides, for which the male will guard heavily (Constantz 1979). Males repel other males and females with erect fins, while allowing females with flattened fins to occupy the area (Constantz 1979). However, the male can be beaten by larger males, which then the larger male will fertilize the eggs (Constantz 1979). Southern tessellated darters reach sexual maturity at 40 millimeters standard length (Gilbert 1992).
