Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: DARTER, HARLEQUIN

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: PERCIDAE

Genus: ETHEOSTOMA

Species: HISTRIO

Taxonomic Authority: JORDAN and GILBERT

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE ENDANGERED
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 005 , 012

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits permanent streams with bottoms of sand or gravel and organic debris."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001 , 008

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in larger streams and ditches of southeast Missouri *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BOLLINGER CARTER ADAIR
BUTLER NEW MADRID ANDREW
DUNKLIN PEMISCOT ATCHISON
MISSISSIPPI WAYNE AUDRAIN
RIPLEY BARRY
SCOTT BARTON
STODDARD BATES
BENTON
BOONE
BUCHANAN
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 008 , 009 , 010

Distribution by Watersheds

Castor R. and Castor R. Diversion Channel
St. John's Ditch and Blue Ditch
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Black R.
Current R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, upper perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, cobble/gravel"
"Riverine, upper perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, sand"
"Riverine, upper perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, organic"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 003 , 004 , 008

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 006

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Trichoptera (caddisflies); Not Specified
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Not Specified
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
Ephemeroptera (mayflies); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 013

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Bottom type: organic debris
Underwater cover: undercut bank
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: caves, wet

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Underwater cover: undercut bank
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Inland wetlands: permanent stream

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: organic debris
Underwater cover: log
Underwater cover: undercut bank
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 004 , 009

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: organic debris
Underwater cover: log
Underwater cover: undercut bank
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 004 , 009

Niche Requirement Summary

Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: organic debris
Bottom type: sand
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: caves, wet
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Underwater cover: log
Underwater cover: undercut bank
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Spawns in February and March at the latitude of Missouri. Young-of-the-year .6-1.1" in length were collected in Tennessee in mid-May *013*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable.
022 Females mature at 1 year *013*.
038 Maximum life span is at least 4 years *013*

Life History Information

Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Spawns in February and March at the latitude of Missouri. Young-of-the-year .6-1.1" in length were collected in Tennessee in mid-May *013*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable.
022 Females mature at 1 year *013*.
038 Maximum life span is at least 4 years *013*

References for life history: 001 , 008 , 013

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec.
003 Hubbs, C. and J. Pigg. 1972. Habitat Preferences Of The Harlequin Darter, Etheostoma Histrio, In Texas And Oklahoma. Copeia 1972(1): 193-194.
004 Tsai, Chu-Fa. 1968. Distribution Of The Harlequin Darter, Etheostoma Histrio. Copeia 1968(1):178-181.
005 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
006 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
007 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
008 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
009 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
010 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
011 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
012 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
013 Etnier, D.E. and W.C. Starnes. 1993. The Fishes Of Tennessee. Univ. Tenn. Press. 681 Pp.