Species FishNorthern Tessellated Darter

Northern Tessellated Darter

Etheostoma olmstedi

CommonFish
Illustration of Northern Tessellated Darter (Etheostoma olmstedi)

The Northern Tessellated Darter is a small, colorful fish with a distinctive pattern of dark spots and light stripes. A memorable fact is that it can often be found in shallow waters, where it uses its camouflage to blend in with the substrate.

Habitat
Freshwater streams and rivers with rocky bottoms
Diet
Insects and small invertebrates
How common
Common

Recent Northern Tessellated Darter sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Northern Tessellated Darter?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More fish

Nurse Shark
Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Oblique-banded Sweetlips
Oblique-banded Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus lineatus
Ocean Sunfish
Ocean Sunfish
Mola mola
Ocean Surgeonfish
Ocean Surgeonfish
Acanthurus bahianus
Ocellaris Clownfish
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Old Wife
Old Wife
Enoplosus armatus
Onespot Demoiselle
Onespot Demoiselle
Chrysiptera unimaculata
Onespot Snapper
Onespot Snapper
Lutjanus monostigma