Alvordius evides Jordan & Copeland, 1877 The gilt darter (Percina evides) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches.

Males form territories during the breeding season in late spring and early summer.

Spawning typically takes place at the upper ends of riffles with sandy and gravelly bottoms interspersed with larger cobbles.

Some organisations are endeavouring to conserve populations of the gilt darter and re-introduce it to states where the fish has been extirpated but suitable habitat still exists.

As currently described, the gilt darter is found in the upper portions of the Mississippi River Basin of North America.

[4] Locally, the gilt darter is found regularly throughout Tennessee in appropriate, high quality habitats.

[7] The gilt darter is a benthic fish that feeds primarily on small aquatic insect larvae.

In a study of gilt darters in the Sunrise River of Minnesota, their diet was found to consist almost exclusively of immature mayflies (46% by number), dipterans (43%), and caddisflies (10%); the composition varied seasonally and with age.

[9] Dietary information on gilt darters from the Little Tennessee River showed a dependence on macro invertebrates.

Under the study conditions, the gilt darter revealed a very diverse diet containing 7–10 taxa of aquatic invertebrates.

It also consumed larger prey and more fish eggs than other Etheostoma darter species it often associates with.

[10] At one site in Indiana, the gilt darter was found in association with central stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum), suckermouth minnows (Phenacobius mirabilis), creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus), western blacknose dace (Rhinichthys obtusus), silverjaw minnow (Notropis buccatus), bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus), sand shiner (Notropis stramineus), spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera), Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum), rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum), and blackside darters (Percina maculata).

[12] In Minnesota, breeding typically occurred over a 6-week period in June and July, although it began in middle May in one year.

[5] Ideal spawning habitat was at the upper ends of riffles with sandy and gravelly bottoms interspersed with larger cobble.

[3] Females produced from 130–400 eggs which hatch and mature past the larval stage within 2 weeks.

It is only listed as an apparently secure species in 3 states (Tennessee, North Carolina, and Arkansas).

[6][14][15] However, some fisheries biologists have taken notice of this decline and have developed new propagation techniques that are suitable for this species.

A recent reintroduction project on the Pigeon River in Tennessee has successfully restored a gilt darter population where they were previously extirpated.

Biologists are hoping that information gained from this successful reintroduction will allow them to attempt restoration efforts in other states where the gilt darter has been extirpated but suitable habitat is available.

Microhabitat use, movements and abundance of gilt darters (Percina evides) in southern Appalachian (USA) streams.