This lifeform is found east of the Continental Divide in North America.

The row of gold spots along the center of the fish is not visible under normal light. The camera flash brought these into view.

The darter group (including genus Etheostoma and other closely related genera ) are only found in the New World. These are typically small fish that lay on the bottom of freshwater steams. Many of the species are found in only a single stream or single small river system. Because they are small and because they tend to hide, they are seldom observed in nature.  One species in this group created the first major test of the United States' endangered species legislation.

Perch Family, Percidae, was originally limited to the freshwaters of the Northern  Hemisphere, but has been introduced worldwide because the perch, walleye, and several other kinds are favorite sport fish.  Also included in this family are the hundreds of species of darters.

Perch-like Fish, Order Perciformes, are the largest order of fish in both freshwater and shallow saltwater. Most of the  conventional fish belong to this order. The bass, bluegills,  perch and crappies of freshwater plus the groupers and sea bass  of salt water belong to this order. The fish all have spiny rays in their fins and the tail fin has seventeen rays. There are approximately 150 families.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that  include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They  are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are  found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.