Where Does Banded Darter Live?

Banded Darter lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Banded Darter

Water type

freshwater

Depth

Typically found in shallow to moderate depths, usually less than 1 meter (3 feet).

Environment

Prefers clear, cool to warm, moderate to fast-flowing riffles and runs of small to medium-sized rivers and larger creeks. They are often associated with gravel, cobble, and bedrock substrates, where they forage among the interstitial spaces. They avoid silty or heavily vegetated areas.

Geographic range

Widely distributed across the central and eastern United States. Its range extends from the Great Lakes basin (primarily Lake Michigan and Lake Erie drainages) south through the Ohio River basin, Mississippi River basin, and into tributaries of the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida. Specific states include Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and parts of Georgia and North Carolina.

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