Etheostoma variatum

Etheostoma variatum (common name variegate darter) is a species of darter.
Description
E. variatum is large in size for its family; it has an average length of between two and a half to three and a half inches (5 to 10 cm). It has a wide variety of markings. There is a red-orange band on its dorsal fin, which is followed by a blue-green band and a red-brown band at the edge of the fin. There are also red spots located on its other fins.
This darter has large pectoral fins, which are used to keep the fish upright in the fast-moving streams it inhabits. It also has four to six saddles along its back. Three to four of these saddles tend to be dark and visible while the remaining saddles are not.
Habitat
E. variatum lives in medium and large rivers and streams in the United States. They tend to live within riffles that contain small rocks. The darter will tend to live in the fastest flowing riffles. In order...