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Bulletin Alabama Museum of Natural History BULLETIN ALABAMA MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY is published by the Alabama Museum of Natural History, The University of Alabama. The BULLETIN is devoted primarily to the subjects of Anthropology, Archaeology, Botany, Geology and Zoology of the Southeast. The BULLETIN appears irregularly in consecutive ly numbered issues. Manuscripts are evaluated by the editor and an editorial com mittee selected for each paper. Authors are requested to conform generally with the Council of Biological Editors Style Manual, Fourth Edition, 1978, and to consult recent issues of the BULLETIN as to style for citing literature and the use of abbreviations. An informative abstract is required. For information and policy on exchanges, write to the Librarian, The Univer sity of Alabama, Box S, University of Alabama, University, AL. 35486. Numbers may be purchased individually; standing orders are accepted. Remit tances should accompany orders and made payable to The University of Alabama. Communication concerning manuscripts, editorial policy, and orders for in dividual numbers should be addressed to the editor: Herbert Boschung, Alabama Museum of Natural History, The University of Alabama, Box 5987, University, AL. 35486. When citing this publication. authors are requested to use the following ab breviation: Bull. Alabama Mus. Nat. Hist. Price this Number: $6.00 NUMBER 8, 1984 Description, Biology and Distribution of the Spotfin Chub, Hybopsis monacha, a Threatened Cyprinid Fish of the Tennessee River Drainage Robert E. Jenkins and Noel M. Burkhead Department of Biology, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, 24153 ABSTRACT: Jenkins, Robert E. and Noel Burkhead, 1984. Description, biology and distribution of the spotfin Chub, Hybopsis monacha. BuUetin Alabama Museum of Natural History, Number 8: 1-30. 6 tables. 7 figs. Anatom}' and color of the distinctive spotfin chub. Hybopsis monacha (Cope). are described in detail for the first time. This species currently is in the subgenus Erimystax, but Erimonax may warrant resurrection as a subgenus for its sole reception. The following appear to be closely linked phyletically: H. monacha. Erimystax s. s., additional eclectic species and species-groups presently in Hybopsis, the genus Phenacobius, and the subgenus Cyprinella of Notropis. Major food items of H. monacha are benthic immature insects. primarily Diptera. Maximum longevity is about three years. maximum known size 89.5 mm SL; males attain larger size than females. Spawning probably ex tends from May into August. Number of ripe ova present in females at one lime (150-800; 0.8-1.4 mm diameter) increases with size of female. but may greatly underestimate fecundity in one spawning season if H. monacha is a fractional spawner. Hybopsis monacha typically inhabits medium to large. relatively clean. warm streams. It is closely associated with riffles and runs with various largely unsilted substrate types. During the past 100 years. it was general!}' rare or uncommon. The spotfin chub is endemic to the Tennessee River drainage. in which it had a wide range: five states, four physiographic provinces. and 12 tributary systems. II has disappeared from most of this range, being extant and localized in only four systems: Lillie Tennessee. North Carolina; Duck and Emory, Tennessee; and North ."ork Holston, Tennessee and Virginia. Probable or possible reasons for reduction or extirpation of populations in clude impoundments, cold tailwaters. channelization, pollution. turbidity. siltation, stream renovation by ichthyocide. localized intensive collecting. and interspecific competition. The spotfin chub merits protection status of Threatened nationally. as designated in 1977. Introduction and Virginia. Its original range includes varied upland The spotfin chub, Hybopsis monacha (Cope), is a small montane habitats in four physiographic provinces compris cyprinid fish, poorly known until recently. Currently, it is ing 12 tributary systems: Blue Ridge (French Broad River placed in the subgenus Erimystax, but its exact relationships and Little Tennessee River systems), Ridge and Valley to this and other species-groups of eastern minnows are (Clinch River, Powell River, North and South forks of unclear. Cope (1868) thought it had solitary habits, but the Holston River, and Chickamauga Creek systems), specific epithet connoting monastic is appropriate only to Cumberland Plateau (Emory River and Whites Creek its occurrence as generally localized, small populations. The systems). and Interior Low Plateaus (Shoal Creek, Little nuptial male of brilliant blue body and blue and white fins Bear Creek, and Duck River systems). However, since 1960 has been seen rarely. H. monacha is known only from the Duck, Little Tennessee, Hybopsis monacha is endemic to the Tennessee River Emory and North Fork Holston systems, North Carolina, drainage of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Tennessee and Virginia. Based on its wide extirpation, and Editorial Committee for this paper: Dr. Brooks M. Burr, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, lL 62901 Dr. David A. Etnier, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916 Dr. Franklin F. Snelson, Jr., University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816 Bull. Alabama Mus. Nat. Hist. 8:1-30. August 31. 1984 2 BULLETIN ALABAMA MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY on localization and vulnerability of the extant populations, tucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KFW); it has been designated as a Threatened species nationally Neil H. Douglas, Northeast Louisiana University (NLU); since 1977. David A. Etnier and Bruce H. Bauer, University of Ten With recognition of wide decline of H. monacha, Jenkins nessee (UT); Joseph C. Feeman, Richard B. Fitz and Charles was contracted in 1975 by the Office of Endangered Species, F. Saylor, Tennessee Valley Authority, Norris (TV A); Carter U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to perform a study of mor R. Gilbert, University of Florida (UF); W. Michael Howell, phology, life history, habitat, and distribution. The data Samford University; Susan L. Jewett, Ernest A. Lachner were used in brief accounts of the species (Jenkins and and W. Ralph Taylor, U.S. National Museum of Natural Burkhead, 1980; Jenkins and Musick, 1980; Starnes and Et History (USNM); William M. Palmer, North Carolina State nier, 1980; Parker and Dixon, 1981), and as a basis for gran Museum of Natural History (NCSM); John S. Ramsey, ting it protection status. In 1981, we performed further work Alabama Cooperative Fishery Unit, Auburn University for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine the cur (AU); Edward C. Raney, Cornell University (CU); Robert rent status of populations of H. monacha and to supple D. Ross, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universi ment previous life history work. ty (VPI); Robert P. Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Here presented is a detailed account of historical and cur Gatlinburg (USFWS); Wayne C. Starnes, University of Ten rent biogeography from museum specimens, ecological data nessee and personal collection (WCS); Royal D. Suttkus, files, and our fieldwork through 1982. This was greatly Tulane University (TU); James C. Underhill, University of enhanced by major contributions of collection data by Minnesota (UMNH); James D. Williams, Office of En numerous ichthyologists, several with special interest in H. dangered Species, USFWS. monacha. Additionally, the first detailed description of the Special recognition is due the following. James P. Beets species is given, and its complex phylogenetic relationships and Robert P. Smith provided detailed notes on joint obser are discussed on the basis of continuing study by Jenkins. vations in Emory River. Edward Crittenden, recent retiree A critical feature of this study is presentation of of the USFWS, Gatlinburg, provided his unpublished survey geochronographic figures. These depict, for single rivers or report on the Little Tennessee system, gave background on river systems with extant populations, the past and current his Emory system survey, and collected Whites Creek for distribution of the species, give numbers of specimens cap us; all these efforts were specifically for H. monacha. Bruce tured by specific collection sites, and summarize numbers H. Bauer transmitted Crittenden's Emory data to us. of collections that did and did not include the species. In Richard B. Eager, formerly TVA, now USFWS, provided so doing, we attempted, and at least closely approached, specimens and his unpublished report on H. monacha in Lit a review of the entire history of ichthyological survey in the tle Tennessee River, and transmitted information on streams treated. Inclusion with the maps of data indicating Franklin Dam. David A. Etnier sent a report on survey of apparent absence of the species ("negative" data) provides the Little Tennessee system for H. monacha, and kept us an aspect of the historical record often needed but missing abreast by unpublished reports of all his collections made or lightly treated in similar studies. We regard the maps as in Tennessee since 1967 and of two study sessions on early a valid starting point for future studies of the same species TVA collections at the UMMZ. For these considerable ef (and to have application in study of associated species). In forts, we also acknowledge Etnier's students Bruce H. vestigators would not need to repeat the tedious and pitfall Bauer, James P. Beets, John L. Harris, David L. Nieland, replete process of regathering and resynthesizing the original