Habitat: North America: found only in Kanawha River drainage above Kanawha Falls in West Virginia and Virginia, USA
Status: Near Threatened



This striking fish is called the Candy Darter (Etheostoma osburni), for good reason. With its festive coloring, this creature looks like a little slice of fishy dessert.  It’s strange to find such a beautifully colored fish in freshwater but that’s just where you’ll find this guy! It only reaches a maximum length of less than 3 inches making it no more than a tiny bite for a predator. Though breeding male fish are more colorful than non-breeding males or females, and are also slightly larger. Beautiful fishies.