Riverine Fish

Ohio is blessed with an abundance of water, but like all developing areas, past and present land use practices affect our water resources.

Land uses that allow soil to runoff into our waterways cause silting of streams and increased turbidity, which can result in a lower quality of water and thus a loss in the diversity of aquatic organisms.

Fish have specific habitat requirements, thus the health of a fish community can tell us a great deal about the quality of the waterway where they reside.

Riverine Fish of Ohio's Scenic Rivers

Vargiegate Darter (Etheostoma variatum)

variegate darterThis species is restricted to streams of the Ohio River drainage in Ohio.

A riffle species, variegates are typically found on riffles having a swift current and substrates composed of large cobbles and small boulders.

They are most abundant in the larger streams that are still relatively unaffected from pollution, acid mine drainage, and siltation.

Breeding males are one of the most colorful of all the stream fish to be found in Ohio.