Trans. Ky. Acad. Sci., 41(1-2), 1980,48-54 A Reassessment of the Distributional Status of Five Cyprinids

BROOKS M. BURR, MICHAEL E. RETZER, AND RICHARD L. MAYDEN Department of Zoology, Southern University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901

ABSTRACT Significant new distributional information that clarifies the ranges of 5 cyprinids in Kentucky is presented in the form of spot distribution maps. Three species, hayi, lutrensis, and N. fumeus, were previously so poorly known that their status was considered indeterminate. Two other species, Ericymba buccata and Notropis stramineus, are widely dis- tributed in eastern Kentucky and heretofore have not been reported west of Doe Run, Meade County. E. buccata is now known to be common in the lower Green and Tradewater rivers and N. stramineus occurs as a relict in Mayfield Creek in extreme western Kentucky.

INTRODUCTION Page and P. W. Smith, Illinois Natural Since the publication of -Fishes of History Survey; R. Cicerello, Kentucky Kentucky" (Clay 1975), there has been an Fish and Wildlife Resources Agency; D. increased interest and awareness in the W. Johnson, Murray State University; N. species of fishes that inhabit Kentucky. H. Douglas, Northeast Univer- Continued field and museum studies sity; R. D. Suttkus, Tulane University; W. have resulted in the discovery of several D. Pearson, University of Louisville; and species of fishes previously not reported R. M. Bailey, University of Michigan Mu- from Kentucky, as well as the accumula- seum of Zoology. K. Schmitt assisted in tion of significant new distributional rec- the preparation of the figures. ords for a number of Kentucky fishes (Bauer and Branson 1979, Burr and May- ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES den 1979, Miller 1978, Webb and Sisk Distributional records are based on 1975). collections made by the authors that are The purposes of this paper are (1) to deposited in the fish collection of South- present a substantial amount of new dis- ern Illinois University at Carbondale, tributional data to clarify the Kentucky and collections deposited in the institu- ranges of 5 cyprinids, 3 of which were tions cited in ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Com- previously so poorly known that they plete collection data may be obtained were considered to be of indeterminate upon request from the first author. Some status in the state (Babcock 1977), and (2) additional distributional information has to permit recipients of this paper an op- been gleaned from several river surveys portunity to update the distributional completed by Kentucky Fish and Wild- statements in -Fishes of Kentucky," and life personnel (e.g., Kentucky River, thereby maintain the usefulness of that Jones 1973; Licking River, Jones 1970; book over the succeeding years. Big Sandy River, Evenhuis 1973). River survey records were used for species that ACKNOWLEDGMENTS are easily identified, or for apparently M. E. Braasch, P. A. Burr, K. Fitzpat- good records based upon other collec- rick, S. D. Ogle, L. M. Page, and P. W. tions from the same area. Species are Smith assisted in the collection and iden- treated in alphabetical order by genus; tification of many of the fish records re- within a genus by species. ported here. We are indebted to the fol- lowing individuals and institutions for Eric ymba buccata Cope allowing one of us (BMB) to examine Silverjaw minnow their records of Kentucky fishes: R. The silverjaw minnow occurs from Schoknecht, Cornell University; L. M. Doe Run, Meade County, eastward in all 48

DISTRIBUTION OF FIVE KENTUCKY CYPRINIDS—Burr et al. 49

FIG. 1. Distribution of E. buccata in Kentucky. Blackened area on inset map represents total range of species. major drainages of Kentucky, and is also populations of this species in west-cen- found in the upper reaches of the Cum- tral Kentucky represent a recent range berland River (Fig. 1). Somewhat iso- expansion from nearby populations in lated populations of the species were re- southern (Gerking 1945). Eri- cently (1978-1979) discovered at 19 cymba buccata may have recently ex- different sites in the lower Green and tended its range in Kentucky, in response Tradewater rivers in Ohio, Daviess, to the man-made changes (e.g., channel- McLean, Hopkins, Henderson, and Web- ization) taking place on the lower Green ster counties. More than 50 individuals River which have created more suitable were collected at several of the sites. Ex- habitat for it. It is equally possible that tensive collecting in the Pond River in- those populations have existed for a long dicated that habitat was mostly unsuita- time since the lower portions of the ble for silverjaw minnows and it is Green and Tradewater rivers have until unlikely that the species occurs in the recently been inadequately sampled for drainage. Specimens were captured from fishes. small (3-7 m wide), sandy or gravelly Wallace (1973) suggested that the streams lacking vegetation with negligi- north—south disjuncture in the total range ble to moderate flow. The species was of E. buccata (Fig. 1: insert map) was the commonly associated with the steelcolor result of failure "of this species to be- shiner Notropis whip plei, redfin shiner come established in the Green, lower N. umbratilis, bluntnose minnow Pime- Cumberland and drainages." phales notatus, suckermouth minnow The discovery of E. buccata in the lower Phenacobius mirabilis, and creek chub Green River does not necessarily make Semotilus atromaculatus. Wallace's hypothesis untenable, espe- Eric ymba buccata has shown rather cially if its presence is a result of recent clear-cut evidence of recent range expan- range expansion. We have collected E. sion in Ohio (Trautman 1957), Pennsyl- buccata from the main channel of the vania (Denoncourt et al. 1975), and Illi- Green River indicating that this moder- nois (Smith 1979), and in 1978 it was ately large river probably is a direct dis- captured for the first time from the Mo- persal route to smaller nearby streams. bile River basin above the Fall Line Perhaps the present north—south disjunc- (Bryant et al. 1979). Perhaps the isolated ture in the range of E. buccata is the re- 50 TRANS. KENTUCKY ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 41( 1-2)

T. T

83.

FIG. 2. Distribution of H. hayi in Kentucky. Blackened area on inset map represents total range of species.

suit of recent extinction of intervening Although somewhat sporadic in occur- populations of a formerly widespread rence, it has been captured in moderate species as Wallace (1973) also suggested. numbers (as many as 13 from a single lo- cality in Ballard County) in muddy bot- Hybognathus hayi Jordan tomed, slow-moving creeks, sloughs, and Cypress minnow lakes, rarely associated with vegetation. The cypress minnow was considered In Kentucky, it is rarely collected with by Babcock (1977) to be a species of in- the related silvery minnow Hybognathus determinate status in Kentucky. That is nuchalis (Smith and Sisk 1969, Webb and "apparently threatened, but insufficient Sisk 1975, our observations), although in data currently available on which to base other parts of its range the two species a reliable assessment of status.- Clay occasionally may be taken together (Fin- (1975) and Babcock (1977) included rec- german and Suttkus 1961). ords of the cypress minnow only from The species is considered extirpated in Obion Creek, Hickman County, and Bab- (Pflieger 1975) and Illinois cock further stated that Kentucky was the (Smith 1979) although it was collected at northern limit of the species' range. several localities from both states during Smith and Sisk (1969) reported H. hayi the late 1930's and early 1940's (speci- from 3 localities in Obion Creek, Hick- mens at University of Michigan Museum man County, and Webb and Sisk (1975) of Zoology). Because several projects are listed 4 localities in Bayou du Chien, planned for the modification of some of Fulton County, for the species. In both the streams in which H. hayi occurs the drainages, those authors considered H. species should probably be placed on the hayi to be uncommon and/or rare. We endangered/threatened list of Kentucky have reexamined the collections of H. fishes. hayi made by the late Morgan E. Sisk and his students at Murray State University Notropis fumeus Evermann and those records are plotted in Fig. 2. Ribbon shiner We have found that H. hayi also occurs The ribbon shiner is one of the most in Mayfield Creek and some of the oxbow abundant species of Notropis in the lakes that border the (Fig. 2). Coastal Plain province of Kentucky and

DISTRIBUTION OF FIVE KENTUCKY CYPRINIDS—Burr et al. 51

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FIG. 3. Distribution of N. fumeus in Kentucky. Blackened area on inset map represents total range of species. occurs in large numbers in the Trade- Bayou du Chien or Obion Creek where water River and portions of the lower N. fumeus is common (Smith and Sisk Green River drainage (Fig. 3). Webb and 1969, Webb and Sisk 1975). At nearly all Sisk (1975) found N. fumeus to be the collecting sites from Clarks River to the most numerous shiner in the Bayou du Green River, both species were taken in Chien drainage. The listing of a collec- the same seine hauls. At most of those tion of that species from the Kentucky localities, N. umbratilis was the more River at Jackson, Breathitt County (Clay abundant (Table 1). Usually, Notropis fu- 1975, Babcock 1977) is apparently a mis- meus is captured in quiet pools of small identification, probably of the related to medium sized streams over a sand, rosefin shiner, N. ardens. mud, or silt bottom. The ribbon shiner occurs syntopically On the basis of the 1 collection known with the redfin shiner N. umbratilis at at the time, Snelson (1973) suggested that almost all localities where it is found, ex- the record of N. fumeus from Rough Riv- cept that N. umbratilis is rarely found in er probably was the result of a bait intro-

TABLE 1.—NUMBERS OF Notropis umbratilis AND N. fumeus PRESENT IN 11 COLLECTIONS FROM KEN- TUCKY

Date of Location collection N. umbratilis N. fumeus N. Br. S. Fk. Panther Cr., Hancock Co. 6 Jun 1979 129 31 Twomile Cr., Daviess Co. 7 Jun 1979 2 1 S. Fk. Panther Cr., Daviess Co. 5 Jun 1979 3 2 S. Fk. Panther Cr., Ohio Co. 6 Jun 1979 167 10 S. Fk. Panther Cr., Ohio Co. 6 Jun 1979 58 9 Long Falls Cr., McLean Co. 7 Jun 1979 13 3 Long Falls Cr., McLean Co. 7 Jun 1979 62 19 East Fork, Webster—Hopkins Co. 8 Oct 1978 141 71 E. Fk. Clarks R., Calloway Co. 17 May 1979 105 22 W. Fk. Clarks R., Calloway Co. 9 Mar 1979 29 15 Trib., E. Fk. Clarks R., Calloway Co. 22 Mar 1978 7 13 52 TRANS. KENTUCKY ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 41(1-2)

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FIG. 4. Distribution of N. lutrensis in Kentucky. Blackened area on inset map represents total range of species.

duction. However, our more recent col- 1975). Its absence from Clarks River (Sisk lections from surrounding areas indicate 1969) probably is due to competitive ex- that N. fumeus is native to the area east clusion by the closely related N. whip- of the Coastal Plain in Kentucky. Perhaps plei and/or the spotfin shiner N. spilop- N. fumeus has recently been extending terus. Clay's (1975) record for N. lutrensis its range and/or has become more abun- from South Fork Little Barren River dant in the Green River in response to probably is based on a misidentification man-made ecological disturbances, es- of a superficially similar species (e.g., N. pecially increased siltation and turbidity. spilopterus or N. whipplei) both of which Babcock (1977) considered the species to are very common in the Green River be of indeterminate status in Kentucky, drainage. but clearly N. fumeus is common and The red shiner is found over a variety widespread enough to be removed from of bottom types but is most frequently the indeterminate category. taken over a sand or gravel bottom in small streams. Again, the species is com- Notropis lutrensis (Baird and Girard) mon to abundant in the streams in which Red shiner it is found even though Babcock (1977) The red shiner has 2 distinct centers of listed the species as of indeterminate sta- distribution in Kentucky: one is the tus in Kentucky. Red shiners are tolerant Coastal Plain province where it occurs in of considerable turbidity and are very ag- tributaries to the Mississippi and Ohio gressive dispersers. The species proba- rivers and the other is in tributaries to the bly is spreading its range in Kentucky as lower Tradewater River (Fig. 4). We have it has in very recent years in Illinois taken this species on several occasions (Page and Smith 1970, Smith 1979). from the main channel of both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Notropis lutren- Notropis stramineus (Cope) sis was taken at 2 stations in Obion Creek Sand shiner (Smith and Sisk 1969) and also at 2 sta- Notropis stramineus is a reasonably tions in Bayou du Chien (Webb and Sisk common inhabitant of the Appalachian 1975) where it was occasionally found in Plateau province in eastern Kentucky, fairly large numbers (Webb and Sisk occurring from Doe Run, Meade County, DISTRIBUTION OF FIVE KENTUCKY CYPRINIDS—Burr et al. 53

FIG. 5. Distribution of N. stramineus in Kentucky. Blackened area on inset map represents total range of species.

to the Big Sandy Basin. It has not been mens and those in eastern Kentucky. collected from the upper Cumberland Another small, isolated population of this drainage in Kentucky, although it occurs species also occurs in western Tennessee in that drainage to the south in adjacent (David A. Etnier unpubl. data). Tennessee. A closely related form of N. stramineus or the N. LITERATURE CITED procne does occur in the Little South BABCOCK, J. 1977. Endangered plants and Fork of the Cumberland but it has not of Kentucky. Inst. Mining Minerals Res., Univ. been formally described (Robert E. Jen- Ky., Lexington, Ky. 128 pp. kins pers. comm.). Except for Woolman's BAUER, B. H., AND B. A. BRANSON. 1979. Distri- butional records for and additions to the ich- (1892) record of N. deliciosus (=N. stra- thyofauna of Kentucky. Trans. Ky. Acad. Sci. mineus? or N. volucellus?) from the 40(1-2):53-55. Tradewater River at Dawson (=Dawson BRYANT, R. T., B. H. BAUER, M. G. RYON, AND W. Springs), the sand shiner has not been C. STARNES. 1979. Distributional notes on previously reported in western Kentucky fishes from northern Georgia with comments on the status of rare species. Southeast. Fishes where it is common in Mayfield Creek in Council Proc. 2(4):[1-41. Graves and Carlisle counties (Fig. 5). BURR, B. M., AND R. L. MAYDEN. 1979. Records of In Mayfield Creek, the sand shiner is fishes in western Kentucky with additions to found most commonly in pools (some- the known fauna. Trans. Ky. Acad. Sci. 40(1- 2):58-67. times in riffles) without vegetation where CLAY, W. M. 1975. The fishes of Kentucky. Ky. it is often associated with Phenacobius Dept. Fish Wildl. Res., Frankfort, Ky. 416 pp. mirabilis, N. lutrensis, and the orange- DENONCOURT, R. F., C. H. HOCUTT, AND J. R. . throat darter Etheostoma spectabile. No- STAUFFER, JR. 1975. Extensions of the known tropis stramineus has not been taken in ranges of Eric ymba buccata Cope and Etheo- 6 stoma zonale (Cope) in the Susquehanna River adjacent small creeks (e.g., portions of drainage. Proc. Penn. Acad. Sci. 49:45-46. • Obion or Shawnee creeks) where suit- EVENHUIS, B. L. 1973. Inventory and classification able habitat is available, despite the col- of streams in the Big Sandy River drainage. Ky. lecting efforts of several workers to ob- Dept. Fish Wildl. Res. Fish. Bull. 57.42 pp. FINGERMAN, S. W., AND R. D. SUTTKUS. 1961. tain specimens. There does not appear to Comparison of Hybognathus hayi Jordan and be any significant morphological differ- Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz. Copeia ences between Mayfield Creek speci- 1961(4):462-467. 54 TRANS. KENTUCKY ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 41(1-2)

GERKING, S. D. 1945. The distribution of the fishes SMITH, P. L., AND M. E. SISK. 1969. The fishes of of Indiana. Invest. Indiana Lakes Streams west Kentucky. II. The fishes of Obion Creek. 3(1):1-137. Trans. Ky. Acad. Sci. 30(3-4):60-68. JONES, A. R. 1970. Inventory and classification of SMITH, P. W. 1979. The fishes of Illinois. Univ. Ill. streams in the Licking River drainage. Ky. Press, Urbana, Ill. 314 pp. Dept. Fish Wildl. Res. Fish. Bull. 53.62 pp. SNELSON, F. F., JR. 1973. Systematics and distri- . 1973. Inventory and classification of bution of the ribbon shiner, Notropis fumeus streams in the Kentucky River drainage. Ky. (), from the central . Dept. Fish Wildl. Res. Fish. Bull. 56.108 pp. Amer. Midl. Nat. 89(1):166-191. MILLER, L. G. 1978. New distributional records TRAUTMAN, M. B. 1957. The fishes of Ohio. Ohio for the rosyside dace in Kentucky. Trans. Ky. St. Univ. Press, Columbus, Ohio. 683 pp. Acad. Sci. 39(3-4):142-144. WALLACE, D. C. 1973. The distribution and dis- PAGE, L. M., AND R. L. SMITH. 1970. Recent range persal of the silverjaw minnow, Ericymba buc- adjustments and hybridization of Notropis lu- cata Cope. Amer. Midl. Nat. 89(1):145-155. trensis and Notropis spilopterus in Illinois. WEBB, D. H., AND M. E. SISK. 1975. The fishes of Trans. III. St. Acad. Sci. 63(3):264-272. west Kentucky. III. The fishes of Bayou de PFLIEGER, W. L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Mo. Chien. Trans. Ky. Acad. Sci. 36(3-4):63-70. Dept. Cons., Jefferson City, Mo. 343 pp. WOOLMAN, A. J. 1892. Report of an examination of SISK, M. E. 1969. The fishes of west Kentucky. I. the rivers of Kentucky, with lists of the fishes Fishes of Clark's River. Trans. Ky. Acad. Sci. obtained. Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm. 10:249-288. 30(3-4):54-59.