One Slender Fish

The Slenderhead Darter (Percina phoxocephela) is one of mystery and beauty. These fish live on the bottom of large rivers and streams. They require clean, cool waters that have substrate comprised mainly of sand and gravel. Here in Indiana, and the neighboring states, they are one of the "largest", small members of its family. Slenderheads are cousins to the Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Sauger, which are popular sportfish around the Great Lakes.

Unlike their larger cousins, and other fish, Darters have reduced swim bladders. This causes them to live on the bottom of their home waters, but they can swim up if need be. Slenderheads can be found in creeks up to small/medium rivers. The predominant habitat they associate with, is riffles. These riffles are shallow areas of a stream or river with fast-moving water over cobble or rocks that break the water surface. As you can see in the picture above, these fish get their name from having a long, slender head with a pointy snout. This pointy snout allows the Slenderhead to look for food by flipping over small rocks and pebbles. After flipping the rocks, they forage for small aquatic insects that float in the water column.

During their breeding season, the males will become darker and the orange band on the first dorsal fin will expand. When looking for a partner, males will "spar" by nipping fins and trying to push one another off their nest. While spawning, the eggs are buried in the sediment and both parents depart the area.

Slenderhead Darters are a pollution-intolerant species. This means they are sensitive to changes in the water quality where they live. Because most of their habitat has been lost due to deforestation and increased sediment runoff into the streams makes finding them in Indiana, or any of their home states, a real treat.