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Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) — Percidae

Bluebreast darter

Etheostoma camurum
Family: Percidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) is a freshwater fish of the family Percidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern North America; fast rocky riffles.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The bluebreast darter is a small perch (Percidae) from eastern North America. The species has a stocky body; courting males are handsomely coloured with a blue breast and red spots. It inhabits fast, rocky riffles of small to medium rivers. On the bottom it forages among the gravel for insect larvae and small invertebrates; the eggs are buried in the substrate. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluebreast darter?

The Bluebreast darter has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Courting male with a blue breast and red spots; small bottom fish of rocky rapids.

Where does the Bluebreast darter live?

The Bluebreast darter lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Eastern North America; fast rocky riffles.

How big does the Bluebreast darter get?

The Bluebreast darter grows to a maximum of about 8 cm. On average the species is around 5 cm.

Is the Bluebreast darter dangerous to humans?

No, the Bluebreast darter is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Bluebreast darter edible?

The Bluebreast darter is not usually eaten.

More photos

Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) — Percidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Steven Wang, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) — Percidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) IHUNTA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) — Percidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Steven Wang, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) — Percidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Joshua Eastlake, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Bluebreast darter verified
Scientific name
Etheostoma camurum
Family
Percidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.4 verified
Average length (cm)
4.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown
Pattern
Spots
Tail shape
Straight
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Eastern North America; fast rocky riffles.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insect larvae and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Courting male with a blue breast and red spots; small bottom fish of rocky rapids. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Etheostoma

More from the family Percidae

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