darter

noun dart·er \ ˈdär-tər \

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Definition of darter

1 : anhinga

2 : any of numerous small North American freshwater bony fishes (especially genera Ammocrypta, Etheostoma, and Percina of the family Percidae)

Recent Examples of darter from the Web

The rest of the fish community includes muskellunge, northern pike, white sucker, brown bullhead, yellow perch, spot-tail shiner, Johnny darter and a handful of other small species.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Can the walleye population rebound in McDermott Lake if bass and panfish are reduced?," 30 June 2018
The drought rules seek to preserve flows at Comal and San Marcos springs, which support habitat of the fountain darter and other endangered species.

— scott huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio, other cities activate Stage 1 watering restrictions," 21 May 2018
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the darter and ordered construction the dam halted, but Congress passed a new law granting an exception to the Tellico.

— rachel riederer, The New Republic, "Can Rivers Be People Too?," 9 May 2018
Another darter was named for former Vice President Al Gore, in honor of his work on climate change.

— richard pyle, National Geographic, "A Fish Called Obama—Newly Discovered Species Named for President," 2 Sep. 2016
In 2012, scientists named a small aqua and orange speckled freshwater darter endemic to a few select drainages of the Tennessee River Etheostoma Obama.

— richard pyle, National Geographic, "A Fish Called Obama—Newly Discovered Species Named for President," 2 Sep. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'darter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of darter

1796

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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