Journal of the Academy of Science

Volume 37 Article 21

1983 Fishes of the Antoine River, Little iM ssouri River System, Southwestern Arkansas Henry W. Robison Southern Arkansas University

Elaine Laird Southern Arkansas University

Darryl Koym Southern Arkansas University

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Recommended Citation Robison, Henry W.; Laird, Elaine; and Koym, Darryl (1983) "Fishes of the Antoine River, Little iM ssouri River System, Southwestern Arkansas," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 37 , Article 21. Available at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol37/iss1/21

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FISHES OF THE ANTOINE RIVER,LITTLEMISSOURI RIVER SYSTEM, SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS

HENRY W. ROBISON, ELAINE LAIRD,1 and DARRYLKOYM Department of Biological Sciences Southern Arkansas University Magnolia, Arkansas 71753

ABSTRACT The fishes of theAntoine- River (LittleMissouri River system) in southwestern Arkansas were surveyed from September, 1980 June, 1982. Thirty-four field collections plus literature and museum records, revealed a total of60 species in 29 genera representing 16 families to presently inhabit the riversystem. Comments are presented onlife history aspects, systematics and occurrence offishes inthe study area.

INTRODUCTION collections were made with 3.1X1.8 mand 6.1X1.8 mseines with 3.175 mm meshes, except one gillnet sample. Specimens were fixed in10% The Antoine River is amajor tributary ofthe Little Missouri River formalin, before being preserved in 40% isopropyl alcohol for system ( drainage) insouthwestern Arkansas. Surpris- permanent storage in the Southern Arkansas Vertebrate Collection. ingly, few collections of fishes have been made from this beautiful Museum records from Northeast Louisiana University were verified upland stream previously. Although Myers (1977) surveyed the fishes when possible. ofthe LittleMissouri River system, he made onlyfour collections from Scientific and common names of fishes follow those of Robins et the Antoine River. Earlier, Buchanan (1973) reported onlyone pre-1960 al. (1980) unless otherwise noted. collection and only two post-1960 collections from the river, one of Stations were established throughout the stream system. The following which was made by the senior author. Prior to this survey, a total of is abrief description of each station. 29 species was known from the Antoine River based primarily on work by Northeast Louisiana University graduate students and one collec- tion by Dr. George A. Moore, Oklahoma State University. Antoine River Stations This paper seeks to document as accurately as possible the ichthyo- fauna ofthe Antoine River using literature records, museum records Pike-Clark County Line and personal collections. 1. Antoine River at Antoine at St. Hwy.26. (Sec. 23, 24, T8S, R23W) Pike County DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA 2. Wolf Creek at St. Hwy.29, 1 mi. SW ofAntoine (Sec. 27, T8S, R23W). The Antoine River is a clear, spring-fed tributary ofthe LittleMissouri 3. Wolf Creek at Co. Rd. bridge, 9 mi. S of Antoine (Sec. 25, 26, River approximately 40 miles long and drains an area of 399 square T8S, R23W). kilometers. Major tributaries include Wolf, Suck, Buffalo, Caney, 4. Buffalo Creek at St. Hwy. 19 (Sec. 9, T9S, R23W). Woodall, Matthews, Little Antoine, and Bigsby Creeks. The river arises 5. Wolf Creek at St. Hwy.26 at Delight (Sec. 19, T8S, R23W). inthe Athens Plateau physiographic region innortheastern Pike County just south of Salem, Arkansas and flows southeasterly through a Pike-Clark Co. Line sparsely populated, heavily forested area of east-west trending valleys 6. Antoine River at end of TAR (Sec. 14, T8S, R23W). and ridges populated by loblolly-shortleaf pine, oak-hickory, and gum 7. Antoine River (Sec. 11, T8S, R23W). trees to form the border of Pike and Clark counties before joiningthe 8. Antoine River at Graysonia (Sec. 21, T7S, R23W). LittleMissouri River south of Antoine, Arkansas withinthe GulfCoastal 9. Antoine River (Sec. 22, T7S, R23W). Plain physiographic region. The Antoine River has a typical dendritic drainage pattern arising Clark Co. inMississippian (Stanley Shale) and Pennsylvanian rocks (Jackfork 10. Unnamed tributary to Antoine River (Sec. 6, T8S, R22W). Sandstone, Johns ValleyShale, lower Atoka Formation) and flows south over Cretaceous rocks before finallyreaching Quaternary Alluviumnear Pike-Clark Co. Line its confluence with the Little Missouri River. Elevations in the head- 11. Antoine River (Sec. 25, T7S, R23W). waters reach 213 m while near the confluence the elevation is 76 m. 12. Antoine River (Sec. 21, T6S, R23W). Mean annual rainfallis 11.76 cm and 12.38 cminPike and Clark coun- ties, respectively. Air temperature ranges from 11.2° to 46.5 °C Clark Co. ; (Hickmon, 1941). 13. Little Antoine River (Sec. 21, T6S, R23W). Antoine River has been classified as awarm-water fishery and Class n Astream (AR. Dept. Poll. Cont. and Be., 1976). Average discharge Pike Co. of the Antoine River is 7.53 m'/s (25 year- average). Selected 14. Bigsby Creek at St. Hwy.84 (Sec. 36, T5S, R24W). physicochemical- data range as follows:- pH 6.6 7.2; water temperature- 15. Unnamed trib. to Bigsby Creek at St. Hwy.84 (Sec. 31, T5S 5° 26 °C; dissolved oxygen 8.1 12.3 mg/1; hardness 15 49 mg/1; R23W). alkalinity 13-24 mg/1. 16. Antoine River at St. Hwy.84 (Sec. 4, 5, T6S, R24W). 17. Unnamed trib. to Antoine River at St. Hwy.84 (Sec. 4, T6S R24W). METHODS AND MATERIAL 18. Antoine River (Sec. 29, T5S, R24W). 19. Antoine River (Sec. 30, T5S, R24W). Fishes were collected from September, 1980 to June, 1982. All 20. Woodall Creek (Sec. 21, T6S, R24W). 21. Matthews Creek (Sec. 19, T6S, R22W) Blevins High School, Blevins, AR.

XXXVII,1983 Published by74 Arkansas Academy of Science,Arkansas 1983Academy of Science Proceedings, Vol. 74 Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 37 [1983], Art. 21

Henry W. Robison, Elaine Laird, and Darryl Koym

ANNOTATEDLIST OF SPECIES of N. cornutus rather than of N. chrysocephalus. Although widely distributed in the system, the southern common shiner was never taken The following discussion of species is supplemented by verified inlarge numbers. Confined to upper areas over gravel substrates above records and literature records. Species are presented in and below riffles and in shallow pools with moderate current. museum following al. (1980). phylogenetic order Robins et Notropis emilae (Hay). Pugnose minnow. Rare. Two specimens ofthe pugnose were in the lower stream regions a Petromyzontidae (Lampreys) minnow collected in backwater, vegetated pool area over organic detritus-sand mixture away lchthyotnyzon castaneus Girard. Chestnut lamprey. Three specimens from the main current. male, females) spawning in swift riffle, (one two were collected a 12-16 Notropis fumeus Everman. Ribbon shiner. Rare. Taken occasionally inches deep, over a gravel bottom at Station 1on 19 May 1982. Females syntopically N. umbratilis, the ribbon was in eggs. 19°C. with shiner collected were fullof Water temperature was sluggish pools over mud and sand substrates in the lower reaches. Amiidae (Bowfins) Notropis perpaliidus Hubbs and Black. Peppered shiner. Previous to study onlyeight specimens, collected byMyers Rare; specimen this six of which were Amia calva Linnaeus. Bowfin. only one small found (1977), had been taken from the Subsequent seining of lower, sluggish reaches the Antoine River. in the of main Antoine River. Station 1at Antoine yielded 21 individuals. Specimens were taken in about over Lepisosteidae (Gars) three to four feet deep pool regions sand and sand-gravel substrates with Justicia americana beds at the margins. Documenta- Lepisosteus oculatus (Winchell).Spotted gar. L. oculatus was uncom- tion ofthe continued existence ofN.perpaliidus is noteworthy as this mon in the system, found onlyoccasionally inthe larger poolsections species is considered rare in Arkansas (Robison, 1974). of the lower reaches. Notropis umbratilis cyanocephalus (Girard). Redfin shiner. The Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus). Longnose gar. More common inhabi- redfin shiner was the most abundant and widespread species in the tant of the lower, more sluggish stream sections. Antoine River system having been taken at 19 of21 stations sampled. The extremely variable habitat requirements of this species facilitates Esocidae (Pikes) its use ofthe entire stream lengthofthe Antoine River and tributaries. Esox americanus vermiculatus Lesueur. Grass Pickerel. The grass Notropis venustus (Girard). Blacktail shiner. Rare in the system. pickerel occurred throughout the system in appropriate backwater, Collected only three times, all in the lower, larger stream portions in vegetated pool habitats. Probably the major predator species in the the pools. system. Notropis whipplci(Girard). Steelcolor shiner. Uncommon. Taken in four downstream localities in pools and regions directlydownstream Clupeidae (Herrings) ofriffles areas over gravel sand bottoms. Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur). Only two specimens Gizzard shad. Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque). Bluntnose minnow. Collected only ofthis schooling species were ina gillnet sample at Station collected sparingly in gravel-bottomed pools of the upper and middle stream 1. As the gizzard shad prefers more lacustrine type habitats generally sections. unavailable inthe Antoine River,itis typicallyuncommon inthe system. Pimephales tenellus (Girard). Slimminnow. Rare in the system. Myers Catostomidae (Suckers) (1977) collected just three specimens of this minnow from the main Antoine River; however, we were unable to collect it. Erimyzon oblongus (Mitchell). Creek chubsucker. Most common sucker inthe higher gradient upper stream sections generally avoiding Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill).Creek chub. The creek chub was the sluggish lower regions. only collected from the uppermost small, headwater tributaries over sand, gravel and rock bottoms and then in small numbers. nigricans (Lesueur). Northern hog sucker. Typically a Emteliumwater clear stream resident occurring rather infrequently in the Ictaluridae (Freshwater catfishes) (Rafinesque). Black Common ictalurid in Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque). Spotted sucker. M. melanops was Ictalurus melas bullhead. the lower more sluggish stream sections over mud and sand bottoms. uncommon in the system as only three specimens were collected. (Lesueur). yellow erythrurum (Rafinesque). Common Ictalurus natalis Yellowbullhead. The bullhead was Golden redhorse. common preferring areas or no current stream resident preferring clean substrates. inthe system oflittle and vegeta- tostoma tion (Justicia americana) in the upper stream reaches and avoiding the lower stream sections. Cyprinidae (Minnows and Carps) Ictalurus (Rafinesque). Channel catfish. Common in the main anomalum pullumAgassiz. Central Abun- punctatus stoneroller. river. tnpostomat headwater stream resident occupying swift riffles. miurus Jordan. Brindled madtom. species was crysoleucas (Mitchell). Golden shiner. Rare within the Noturus This secretive collected, may collected inthe lower stream sections and was inassociation withbrush em. Only four specimens were and these be bait pile in pools with ranging EemigonusDductions. debris noticeable current in depths of six inches to two feet over shifting sand substrates. Females taken inmid- atherinoides Rafinesque. Emerald shiner. The emerald shiner June were full ofeggs. in the Antoine being largely confined the lower common River to Noturus gyrinus (Mitchill). Tadpole madtom. Rare. Myers (1977) m sections where this population has free access to the larger main Eopis reported two specimens and wecollected another four individuals from of the Little Missouri River. nel Wolf and Buffalo Creeks. N.gyrinus typically was taken in sluggish, boops Gilbert. Bigeye shiner. Abundant schooling cyprinid backwater areas with submerged aquatic vegetation or over accumulated the system. N.boops was collected at 16 of21 stations from pool detritus. 1>tropis[ions having some and gravel bottoms. flow Noturus nocturnus Jordan and Gilbert. Freckled madtom. The cornutus isolepis Hubbs and Brown. Southern common shiner, freckled madtom was a common ictalurid taken during the survey from t'opisfollowMiller (1968) inconsidering N.cornutus isolepis a subspecies riffles withgravel bottoms, accumulations of twigs, leaves and sticks, http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol37/iss1/21 75 Arkansas Academy of Science Proceedings, Vol. XXXVII,1983 75 Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 37 [1983], Art. 21

Fishes of the Antoine River, Little Missouri River System, Southwestern Arkansas

and occasionally vegetated stream margins. bass. Spawning males guarding nests were seen 19 May 1982 in Wolf Pylodictis olivaris(Raflnesque). Flathead catfish. This solitary species Creek. is occasionally taken on hook and line by anglers (R. Reed, pers. Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Largemouth bass. Found in the comm.). lower, more sluggish pool regions ofthe system. Pomoxis Raflnesque. Anguillidae (Freshwater Eels) annularis White crappie. No crappie were collected during this survey, although this species was reported by Anguillarostrata (Lesueur). American eel. The eel is still taken occa- Buchanan (1973). sionally on hook and line by fishermen knowledgeable with the river (R. Reed, pers. comm.). Percidae (True Perches) Etheostoma blennioides newmanii (Agassiz). Greenside darter. Miller Cyprinodontidae (Killifishes) (1968) did not examine specimens from the Antoine River; however, specimens from the Ouachita and river Fundulus notatus (Raflnesque). Blackstripe topminnow. The same upper Saline systems were ecological separation noted by Braasch and Smith (1965) was designated E. b. newmanii as were all Arkansas populations. Pre- sections algae covered gravel and documented in this study as F. notatus was collected only from pools ferred fast stream in riffles over inthe extreme lower portions ofthe Antoine River whileF. olivaceus bedrock runs in the upper sections. was more abundant in the upper and middle three-fourths ofthe system. Etheostoma chlorosomum (Hay). Bluntnose darter. Rather uncommon The two species were never collected syn topically. darter owing to itspreference forsand, clay, mud or detritus substrates pool This not commonly olivaceus (Storer). Blackspotted topminnow. The blackspotted in shallow areas. habitat is found in the Fundulus River system. topminnow was more common than F. notatus and was found Antoine throughout the upper and middle regions at stream margins and in pools Etheostoma collettei Birdsong and Knapp. Creole darter. Common away from the main current. darter in swift gravel riffles. Avoids the sluggish lower stream sections. Etheostoma histrio Jordan and Gilbert. Harlequin darter. Although (Mosquitoflsh) Poeciliidae relatively samples, to I rare in our E. histrio conformed observations of Gambusia a/finis (Baird and Girard). Mosquitofish. Uncommon. Hubbs and Pigg (1972) by preferring detritus sand substrates to gravel Confined primarily to the lower tributaries, frequenting vegetated areas. This limited the distribution of this species to only the lower backwaters. station. Etheostoma nigrum Raflnesque. Johnny darter. Rare. One specimen Atherinidae (Silversides) was collected previously by Dr. G. A. Moore (pers. comm.). Not Labidesthes sicculus (Cope). Brook silverside. A common and abun- collected in our survey. dant pool species occurring throughout the Antoine River system. Etheostoma radiosum (Hubbs and Black). Orangebelly darter. Hubbs and Black (1941) reviewed the darters ofthe whippleicomplex, this fish Aphredoderidae (Pirate Perches) being considered a subspecies of whippleiat the time and reported Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams). Pirate perch. Rare. Usually associated specimens from the Little Missouri River system as Poecilichthys with vegetated stream edges (Justicia) and accumulations of twigsand whipplii radiosum (-E. radiosum) . A thorough study of this species leaves over bottoms consisting ofmud and decaying organic matter in is in need inArkansas. Taken inshallow gravel riffles inlower stream the lower reaches of the main river and Wolf Creek. sections. Etheostoma stigmaeum stigmaeum (Jordan). Speckled darter. All Centrarchidae (Sunflshes) Arkansas populations ofthe speckled darter belong to the nominate Ambloplitesrupestris (Raflnesque). Rock bass. A single small specimen form, E. s. stigmaeum (Howell, 1968). This fish was never abundant was taken from Station 13 from a vegetated stream margin. Local at any localityand preferred downstream areas below moderately swift fishermen attest to its more common presence in the system. riffles in about one foot of water over a gravel-sand mixed bottom. Chaenobryttus gulosus Cuvier. Warmouth. We follow Miller and Etheostoma whipplei(Girard). Redfln darter. Small numbers of this Robison (1973) in retaining the name C. gulosus for the warmouth. percid were taken insmall to large-sized tributaries over sand and gravel The warmouth exhibited a decided preference for pools with mud bottoms and occasionally inbrush piles. bottoms covered withorganic debris withrooted aquatic vegetation in Etheostoma zonale (Cope). Banded darter. The banded darter was the lower sections. another ofthe rather uncommon percids confined to the lower,larger Lepomis cyanellus Raflnesque. Green sunflsh. The green sunfish is quite stream segments. Tsai and Raney (1974) reported banded darters in the widespread and abundant inthe Antoine River system due toits more Upper Ouachita River to average 50.3 lateral line scales. Breast plastic habitat requirements. Found at 12 ofthe 21 stations. squamation was roughly V* partially scaled. Antoine River specimens and Raney (1974) designated Ouachita Raflnesque. Bluegill.Widespread were similar. Tsai the River Lepomis macrochirus and abundant populations to conform to the Arkansas race ofE. z. zonale. Antoine in the system, especially near the confluence with the LittleMissouri River populations are also placed in this race. i River where abundant cover was available. i Percina caprodes (Raflnesque). Logperch. Uncommon with only five Lepomis megalotis Raflnesque. Longear Most common sunflsh. specimens collected, from to deep in at 17 of the 21 stations in variety all moderate swift riffles in the centrarchid the system. Taken a middle and lower stream areas. of stream habitats. Percina copelandi (Jordan). Channel darter. Only four specimens of Lepomis microlophus (Gunther). Redear sunfish. Rare. Only two were collected, all (Station 1) the main specimens during our survey the channel darter at Antoine in were collected from the lower stream river from moderately swift deep riffleareas with algae covered gravel sections. substrates. Lacepede. Smallmouth bass. Primarily taken Micropterus dolomieui Percina maculata (Girard). Blackside darter. A single specimen of P- upper, pools. in the clear stream sections in maculata has been collected from the system by Dr.G. A.Moore (pers. Micropterus punctulatus (Raflnesque). Spotted bass. Most common comm.). This species is rare due to the paucity ofits preferred lowland bass, found to prefer swifter stream sections than did the largemouth habitat in the Antoine River system.

Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 1983 Proceedings, Vol. XXXVII, 76 76 Arkansas Academy of Science 1983 Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 37 [1983], Art. 21

Henry W. Robison, Elaine Laird, and Darryl Koym

Percina sciera (Swain). Dusky darter. Common. Frequently encountered BUCHANAN,T. M. 1973. Key to the fishes of Arkansas. Arkansas near over-hanging banks and submerged brush piles and leaf litterin Game and Fish Commission, Little Rock. 168 pp. the lower stream sections. DEWEY, M.R., and T. E. MOEN. 1978. Fishes of the Caddo River, Sciaenidae (Drums) Arkansas after impoundment of DeGray Lake. Proc. Ark.Acad. Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque. Freshwater drum. Rather common Sci. 32:39-42. pool regions frequently by (R. Reed, inthe lower and taken fishermen River, comm.). FRUGE, D. W. 1971. Fishes of the Caddo west-central pers. Arkansas. M.S. Thesis. Northeast Louisiana Univ.,Monroe. 24pp.

SUMMARY HICKMON, A. J. 1941. Climate of Arkansas. Climate and Man. Yearbook of Agriculture. U. S. Dept. Agri. pp. 773-782. species in genera representing A total of 60 29 16 families was HOWELL, ofthe percid fish, documented from the Antoine River, a tributary of the Little River W. M.1968. Taxonomy and distribution by 34 collections, previously published Etheostoma stigmaeum (Jordan), with the validation and redescrip- system, field literature records Unpubl. Ph.D. and museum records. tionofEtheostoma davisoni Hay. dissert. Univ. comparing the Antoine River ichthyofauna withother Ouachita Alabama. 113 pp. Arkansas, apparent itain streams of southern it is that the HUBBS, C, harlequin ine is a moderately rich For example, the and J. PIGG. 1972. Habitat preferences ofthe stream system. entire darter, histrio, Oklahoma. Copeia, Missouri River,of which the Antoine River is a tributary, has Etheostoma in Texas and 1972(1):193-194. lIof91 fish species known from the system (Myers, 1977) while addo River system, immediately to the north of the has Antoine HUBBS, L., corded species (Fruge, 1971; Dewey and Moen, 1978). C. and J. D. BLACK. 1941. The subspecies of the fish, The occurrence of good populations of the rare cyprinid Notropis American percid Poecilichthys whipplii.Occ. Paps. Mus. Zoology, Univ.Michigan. 429:1-27. Iperpallidus ofrelatively good water quality was seen as evidence as was the presence of 12 darter species. MILLER,R. J. 1968. Speciation inthe common shiner: an alternate view. Cop'eia. 1968(3):640-647. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MILLER,R. J., and H. W.ROBISON. 1973. The fishes ofOklahoma. 1, We are grateful to Mr. Richard Reed, Southern Okla. State Univ.Mus. Nat. Cult. Hist. Ser. No. 246 pp. University, for sharing his knowledge of Arkansas the MILLER, darter, fishery aspects ofthe Antoine River. Thanks go to Dr. R. V. 1968. A systematic study of the greenside G. A.Moore, Oklahoma State University, for allowing Etheostoma blennioides Rafinesque (Pisces: Percidae). Copeia, the use ofhis personal collection from the Antoine. The 1968(1):1-40. senior author is extremely appreciative of Dr.Neil H. Douglas, University, MYERS, J. W. 1977. Fishes of the Little Missouri River, southwest Northeastern Louisiana for Univ., unlimited use ofhis museum records, without which such Arkansas. M.S. Thesis. Northeast Louisiana Monroe. 25 pp. studies would be woefully incomplete. PFLIEGER, W. L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Dept. Cons., Columbia, MO. 343 pp. LITERATURE CITED ROBINS, C. R., R. M. BAILEY,C. E. BOND, J. R. BROOKER, LACHNER, LEA, DEPARTMENT OF POLLUTION CONTROL AND E. A. R. N. and W. B. SCOTT. 1980. Alist ECOLOGY. 1976. Arkansas Water Quality Inventory Report of common scientific names offishes from the United States and for Amer. Spec. No. 12:174 rlANSAS1975. Special Publication. Little Rock. 240 pp. Canada. Fish. Soc. Publ. pp. ROBISON, J. D. 1940. The of Arkansas. H. W. 1974. Threatened fishes of Arkansas. Proc. Ark. distribution of the fishes Acad. Sci. 28:59-64. tCK,Unpubl. Ph.D. dissert., Univ. Michigan. 243 pp. TSAI,C, and E. C. RANEY. 1974. Systematics of darter, M. E., and P. W. SMITH. 1965. Relationships of the the banded topminnows Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceus in the Etheostoma zonale (Pisces: Percidae). Copeia, 1974(1): 1-24. rASCH,upper Valley.Copeia, 1965(l):46-53.

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