Spawning behavior of snubnose darters (Percidae) in natural and laboratory environments

Eight species of snubnose darters (genus Etheostoma) were observed and filmed to compare the spawning behavior in the field and in aquaria. These darters exhibited substrate searching, male lateral quivers, and head jabbing behavior in both the field and aquaria. In streams, snubnose darters attached eggs singly to cobble and larger rock substrates, while in aquaria several species were found to attach eggs to fine aquarium gravel as well as cobble and larger rocks. In general, these results support previous aquarium studies of snubnose darters. Information on spawning behavior in snubnose darters as well as darters of the closely related subgenus Etheostoma is synthesized in order to address the phylogenetic affinities of some species in this group of fish.