The Darters

Darters are a small, wonderfully colored bottom dwelling fish that looks more suited to live in a coral reef or tropical aquarium than the cold fast flowing streams of the Smokies. A diversity of darter species in the Park is indicative of the excellent water quality the Smokies has due to its protection from anthropogenic expansion. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over a dozen species of these charismatic fish, and has one of the best protected habitats for Darters in the country. Footage by Eric Malone, and Gary Wilson