Tippecanoe Darter

Tippecanoe Darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe)

One of the smallest of all Ohio darters, the Tippecanoe Darter is an inhabitant of some of the larger rivers and streams possessing moderate gradients and clean gravel substrates.

They frequent those sections of riffles characterized by moderate gradients and substrates composed primarily of sand and gravel. Small cobbles may also be found on these riffles.

In the lower Muskingum River where a small population still persists these darters are found in chutes having gravel substrates, relatively swift currents and depths ranging from 1-4 feet. Elsewhere populations are found in Paint Creek, Deer Creek, and Big Darby Creek with some individuals also being found in the Scioto River below Big Darby.

The Tippecanoe is intolerant to the effects of siltation and turbidity. When turbidity increases as a result of storms, these darters will retreat from their territories into adjacent pools.

Reproductive success hinges in part on weather and flow conditions during the breeding season and population levels may swing wildly from year to year as a consequence.