Sharpnose Darter

Percina oxyrhynchus

Percidae · freshwater water fish

2 minute read · Species guide

Sharpnose Darter field guide illustration

About Sharpnose Darter

The sharpnose darter (Percina oxyrhynchus) is a 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 found in North America where it occurs in the southern tributaries of upper Ohio River, to the Kentucky River in Kentucky, south in the New River drainage to North Carolina. It prefers gravel runs and riffles of small to medium-sized rivers.

Diet and feeding

The FishTraits compilation records these diet categories for this species: invertebrates or larval fish. These are broad categories, not a claim that every individual consumes every example in a category.

Reported feeding positions include bottom feeding. The compilation combines published observations; diets can vary with age, locality, and available food.

Habitat preferences

Reported habitat associations include medium to large rivers, streams and small rivers.

The source records associations with sand, gravel, cobble, boulders. An association indicates reported use, rather than an exclusive requirement.

Reproduction and parental care

The compilation reports a representative maturity age of 1.5 years. Its maturity field summarizes mean, median, or modal estimates, usually for females; male estimates can be used when female data are unavailable. It is not a fixed age at which every fish first breeds.

Recorded spawning months are Apr, May for the source’s reporting region (NC). This is a regional calendar, not a range-wide schedule.

The reproductive-guild classification includes hiding a brood without subsequent guarding.

Size and recorded longevity

FishTraits reports a maximum total length of 12 centimetres. Some entries use an estimated asymptotic length; this value should not be treated as a certified record catch.

Recorded longevity in the compilation is 4 years. Wild observations were preferred, but captive records were accepted where wild records were unavailable, and unspecified records were assumed wild. The value is not a guaranteed wild lifespan or an aquarium life expectancy.

Range

Where it lives

Share of 189 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 4 states.
0%
51.3%
Share of 189 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 4 states.

Habitat

Water and movement

Water
WoRMS records this species in fresh water.
Migration
Undetermined

Classification

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Superclass
Actinopterygii
Class
Teleostei
Order
Perciformes
Family
Percidae
Genus
Percina
Species
Percina oxyrhynchus
ITIS TSN
201997
WoRMS AphiaID
1525248
GBIF key
2382035

Common questions about Sharpnose Darter

What is the scientific name of Sharpnose Darter?
The scientific name is Percina oxyrhynchus, in the family Percidae. Classification follows ITIS.
Does Sharpnose Darter live in fresh water or salt water?
WoRMS records this species in fresh water.
Where has Sharpnose Darter been recorded in the United States?
GBIF has observations in 4 states, with the most records in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia. The map shows observation records, which do not establish the complete natural range.

Closest relatives

Other Percina species

Same family

More Percidae

All 229 species in Percidae