Records of Fishes Little-Known from

FRANK B. CROSS University of Kansas, Lawrence This paper presents distributional records and other notes upon 10 species of fishes which have seldom or never been reported from Kansas. Although some of these fishes have long been known to occur in the state, adequate references, citing localities represented in collections, are lacking. Most of the records listed below have been obtained during the past three years by ichthyo ogy classes at the University of Kansas or by stu- dents on State Biological Survey assignments. The specimens are deposited in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. For widely-distributed species which are represented by several col- lection localities are cited in terms of drainage system and county, but catalogue numbers of specimens are omitted. Exact localities and K.U. catalogue numbers are stated where records are based upon a few speci- mens taken from limited areas within the state. Characters used in the account of each species are ones which will aid in separating that species from fishes previously reported from Kansas by Cragin (1885), Graham (1885), Breukelman (1940, 1947) and others. Dionda nubila (Forbes) : Ozark minnow. Previous record: Graham (1885:73) as D. meeki. New locality: Shoal Creek, Cherokee County, Sec. 35, T. 34 S, R. 25 E (KU 2192). Characters: A minnow with pharyngeal teeth 4-4, slightly hooked; barbels absent; intestine long, much coiled in body cavity, but entirely ventral to air bladder; predorsal scales not especially crowded nor markedly smaller than those on sides; color olivaceous, silvery below, with dark punctulations along lateral line and a small, indistinct dark spot at base of caudal fin; eye moderately large, its diameter greater than one-fourth head length. Discussion: Graham (1885:73) listed Dionda meeki, a nomen nudum, from the Neosho River in Kansas. The origin of this name and the identity of its "types" with D. nubila are made clear by Jordan and Gilbert (1887:2). There can be little doubt that Graham had reference to the present species. A single specimen of the Ozark minnow was taken on April 17, 1952, from Shoal Creek. Seemingly this species, abundant in streams of the

Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 57, No. 4, 1954. [473] 474 The Kansas Academy of Science

Ozark uplift in adjacent parts of Missouri and , barely enters Kansas. Probably it will not be found west of the Neosho River System. Notropis boops Gilbert: bigeye shiner. Previous record: Hubbs and Lagler (1947:66) (Kansas included in general account of range). New localities: Shoal Creek, Cherokee County, Sec. 35, T. 34 S, R. 25 E (KU 2193, 2892 and 3192); Spring River, Cherokee County, Sec. 6, T. 35 S, R. 25 E (KU 2176) ; Brush Creek, Cherokee County, 1 mile west of Riverton on U.S. Highway 66 (KU 1346). Characters: A species of Notropis with pharyngeal teeth usually 1. 4-4, 1; peritoneum black; body little compressed, nearly terete; anal rays usually 8; eyes large, their diameter not less than one-third head length; predorsal scales large, strongly outlined by melanophores; predorsal stripe indistinct; pores of lateral-line scales outlined by melanophores, and a dark band around snout, traversing lips. Discussion: The bigeye shiner has been taken several times in Shoal Creek where it is abundant. In Kansas it seems to be restricted to the limited area in Cherokee County with pronounced Ozarkian affinities. Notropis buchanani Meek: ghost shiner. Previous record: Hubbs and Lagler (1947:67) (Kansas included in general statement of range). New localities: Numerous in the Spring River System (Cherokee County), the Neosho River (Lyon County), and the Marais des Cygnes- Osage System, including the Marmaton River (Anderson, Bourbon, Franklin, Linn, Miami, and Osage counties). Characters: A species of Notropis with pharyngeal teeth 4-4; peritoneum silvery; anal rays usually 8; anterior lateral-line scales vertically enlarged, much higher than scales in rows above and below the lateral- line series; infraorbital canal absent or rudimentary; body pallid, trans- lucent in life, with a longitudinal strip above the lateral line almost devoid of pigment; caudal peduncle relatively long, 3.8-4.3 in standard length. Discussion: Despite the scarcity of references to its occurrence, the ghost shiner is common throughout much of eastern Kansas. In the Marais des Cygnes System, N. buchanani has been taken in almost every collection made in recent years. Assuming that a careful examination is made for the distinctively high scales in the literal line, this species could be confused only with N. volucella (Cope), with which buchanani occurs in tributaries of the in southeastern Kansas. I follow Bailey (1951:193, 222-223) in recognizing buchanani as a species dis- tinct from volucella; characters which will separate the two are included in the diagnosis above. Records of Fishes Little-Known from Kansas 475

Notropis spi/opterus (Cope) : spotfin shiner Previous records: None. New localities: Shoal Creek, Cherokee County, Sec. 35, T. 34 S, R. 25 E (KU 3186); Spring River, Cherokee County, Sec. 30, T. 34 S, R. 25 E (KU 2229); and Sec. 6 and 7, T. 35 S, R. 25 E (KU 2178). Characters: A species of Notropis with pharyngeal teeth usually 1,4-4,1; peritoneum silvery; body moderately compressed, the greatest depth 3.6 4.1 in standard length; originating slightly behind pelvic fins, posterior interradial membranes of dorsal fin often blackened in adults; anal rays usually 8; lateral-line scales 36-38; body without a distinct dark lateral band; caudal fin uniformly pigmented, and without a spot at base. Discussion: Among fishes with which it occurs in Kansas, the spotfin shiner most closely resembles N. camura (Jordan and Meek) and N. lutrensis (Baird and Girard). Both of these species usually have 9 anal rays. N. lutrens's has a deeper body and blunter snout than N. spiloptertts, fewer lateral line scales (34-35), and a single row of pharyn- geal teeth (4-4). Tl-e red shiner never has conspicuous black blotches restricted to the poste ior interradial membranes of the dorsal fin. N. camura is like spi/opterus in pharyngeal-tooth count, number of lateral- line scales, proportions of the body, and posterior blackening of the dorsal fin. The lattet character is better developed in camura than in spi/opterus, which may scarcely develop this feature except in large adults. In N. camura, the distinctive absence of pigment at the base of the caudal fin is sufficiently evident, even in small specimens, to facilitate separation of camura from spi/opterus where they have been found together in Kansas. The spotfin shine- seems to be confined to the Spring River System in Kansas, and is most common in Shoal Creek. In samples seined on April 11, 1954, spi/o?terus was much less abundant than camura, but more abundant than lutrensis. All three species often were taken in the same seine-haul. Schilbeodes noctu nus (Jordan and Gilbert) : freckled madtom. Previous record: Cross (1954). New localities: Neosho River in Coffey, Labette, and Lyon counties (several collections); 1 ributary of Four-Mile Creek, Sec. 36, T. 27 S, R. 2 E (Walnut River drainage), Sedgwick County; also known to occur in the Chikaskia River. Characters: A small catfish with adipose fin confluent with caudal fin; premaxillary band of teeth without backward lateral extensions; pelvic 476 The Kansas Academy of Science rays 9; lower jaw distinctly shorter than upper; serrations on pectoral spines weak; body uniformly pigmenied, not strongly mottled; vertical fins light-edged. Discussion: Although the freckled madtom occurs widely in Kansas, it is not abundant at any of the localities where it has been taken. It is found in sluggish creeks, along muddy banks or under debris, more often than in riffles in fast-flowing streams. S. nocturnus presumably is one of the "three or four species of mad toms" to which Breukelman (1947:8) referred. Gambusia affinis aFFInis (Baird and Girard): mosquitofish. Previous record: None. New localities: Numerous, all in the Arkansas River System, in- cluding the Spring and Neosho rivers (Cherokee and Labette counties), the Verdigris River System (Chautauqua, Wilson, and Montgomery counties), the Walnut River System (Butler and Cowley counties) and Elm Creek (Barber County). Characters: A livebearer; anal fin of male modified into a slender, rod-like intromittent organ; head with plate-like scales; fins entirely soft- rayed, anal rays 6-8. Discussion: It seems likely that the mosquitofish is not native to Kansas. This species has been introduced widely throughout the , and probably has been brought into Kansas on many occasions. It is now well established and often abundant in the Arkansas River System. Gambusia is adapted to live in shallow waters, where it feeds largely at the surface. The mosquitofish merits its name in that it eats many larval mosquitoes, where these are abundant; so, however, do many native fishes, and the degree of increased control of mosquitoes obtained by introduction of Gambusia is debatable, where sizeable populations of other fishes exist. Hadroplerus shumardi Girard: river darter Previous record: None. New locality: Neosho River at Chetopa, Labette County, Sec. 35 T. 34 S, R. 21 E (KU 3208). Characters: A darter with a naked strip along midline of belly, except immediately in front of anus, where usually a few little-modified scales 're present; anal spines 2; dorsal spines 10 or 11; premaxillaries protractile or, more often, with a narrow frenum which may be concealed when mouth is closed; snout bluntly rounded; cheeks and opercles scaly; eyes high on head, frog-like; color dark olivaceous, without conspicuous pattern except for indistinct dark blotches on sides which tend to be vertically elongate; spinous dorsal with an anterior and a posterior dark Records of Fishes Little-Known from Kansas 477 spot; anal fin of male enlarged, extending to base of caudal, tuberculate during breeding season. Discussion: Eight specimens of the river darter were seined from moderately-fast riffles, which averaged two feet deep, below a dam in the Neosho River at Chetopa on April 10, 1954. The four males in this series have well-deve'oped tubercles on the rays of the anal fin and the lower rays of the caudal fin; females have their abdomens distended by developed eggs. The Neosho River probably was at one of the lowest stages in its history in April, 1954. Therefore seining was unusually easy and effective. Domestic pollution of the stream was severe, as evidenced by strong odors, grey "color" of the water, and extensive bottom-deposits of sludge. The adverse effects of t-ie pollution were offset locally by numerous riffles and shallow depth of the water across the broad, rocky river-bed. The fish fauna was abundant and varied. Etheostomd. chlorosomum Hay: bluntnose darter. Previous record: None. New localities: Three, all in the Spring River System: Second Cow Creek, Crawford County, Sec. 20, T. 29 S, R. 24 E (KU 2254 and KU 2932) ; unnamed creek, Cherokee County, 6 miles south of Crawford County line on U.S. H ghway 69 (KU 1384); roadside pond, Cherokee County, 16 miles south of Crawford County line on U.S. Highway 69 (KU 1362). Characters: A darter with belly covered by ordinary, unspecialized scales; a single anal spine; premaxillaries protractile; lateral line incom- plete; cheeks and operdes scaly; snout blunt, mouth ventral; color plain, sides and back marked by several small brownish spots and checks; snout traversed, bridle-like, by a decurved dark band which is continuous above upper lip. Discussion: One specimen of the bluntnose darter was taken in each of two collections from Second Cow Creek. The second specimen, a female, was in spawning condition when caught on April 10, 1953. The two records from Cherokee County consist of 2 and 9 specimens, respec- tively. Probably E. chlorosomum occurs in small numbers over much of the Arkansas River drainage of southeastern Kansas, in the smaller, slowly- flowing creeks. Etheostoma flabellare lineolatum (Agassiz): fantail darter. Previous record: Cross (1954). New localities: Numerous in southeastern Kansas. Marais des 478 The Kansas Academy of Science

Cygnes and Marmaton river systems in Bourbon and Linn counties, and Spring and Neosho river systems in Cherokee and Chase counties. Characters: A darter with belly covered by ordinary, unspecialized scales; two anal spines; premaxillaries non-protractile; head small, scale- less, snout acute; gill membranes broadly connected across isthmus; first dorsal fin low, the 7 to 9 spines short, and with thickened fleshy tips in adult males; body dark, without bright colors; sides with numerous fine longitudinal lines, caudal fin strongly barred with black. Discussion: First reported from the South Fork of the Cottonwood River (Cross, 1954), the fantail darter has been taken also in several other small, spring-fed streams of eastern and southeastern Kansas. It inhabits shallow riffles, and prefers clear, cool water; probably it cannot exist in intermittent streams. Therefore, populations of E. flabellare, though sometimes large, are scattered in the Neosho and Osage river systems. Etheostoma gracile (Girard) : western swamp darter. Previous record: None authenticated. See discussion below. New localities: Second Cow Creek, Crawford County, Sec. 20, T. 29 S, R. 24 E (KU 2255 and 2933). Characters: A darter with belly covered by ordinary, unspecialized scales; two anal spines; premaxillaries non-protractile; lateral line arched upward anteriorly, incomplete; cheeks and opercles scaly; dorsal spines 7 to 10, soft rays 9 to 12, usually 10; color plain, back and sides reticu- lated; breeding males with tubercles on chin, with a series (often 8) of delicately blue-green, oval spots on sides, and with spinous dorsal fin mostly black except for a narrow white band near margin. Discussion: Graham (1885:76) listed E. fusiforme Jordan as "common in the Marais des Cygnes", and commented that E. fusiforme, as understood by him, embraced other nominal species including gracile. Evermann and Cox (1896:423) cited Graham's record, as Boleichthys fusiformis. Hubbs and Cannon (1935:43), in clarifying the status of fusiforme, gracile, and other species in this group, stated that the records from Kansas probably should be referred to Poecilichthys (=Etheostoma) exilis (Girard). This opinion was based on the following evidence: (1) failure of subsequent collectors to obtain E. gracile from the Marais des Cygnes System; (2) the existence in the U. S. National Museum of a specimen of E. exile, a species not mentioned by Graham, from Marais des Cygnes, Kansas; (3) frequent confusion of exile with the species- group called fusiforme by ichthyologists of Graham's time; and (4) the otherwise complementary distributions of exile and gracile. Breukelman (19.40:373) applied this opinion in a discussion of unpublished records rOVI

Records of Fishes Littl -Known from Kansas 479

by Cheatum of Boleichthys fusifor is from the Smoky Hill River. Cheatum's specimens, however, were eferred to E. spectabile (Agassiz). Fairly thorough co.lecting, mostlr by W. R. Taylor and by me, has failed to add evidence of the occurrence of either E. gracile or E. exile in the Marais des Cygnes. In the Arkansas River System, thirteen swamp darters were seined from an overflow pool of Second Cow Creek on April 18, 1952. The pool contained much rooted aquatic vegetation and most specimens were obtained by scooping through this vegetation with a 4-foot seine made of nylon screening material. This locality was re- visited on April 10, 1953, but the p ol had dried and only four swamp darters were collected, in the main hannel of the creek. Both series of specimens seemed to be in breedi g condition at the time of capture. Literatur Cited BAILEY, REEVE M. 1951. A check list o the fishes of Iowa with keys for identi- fication. (pp. 1E7-238 in Iowa ish and Fishing, by J. R. HARLAN and E. B. SPEAKER. Iowa Cons. Comm., Des Moines). BREUKELMAN, JOHN. 1940. The fishes of northwestern Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 43:367-375. 1947. What have I caught? Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Comm. Bull. 7:1-35. CRAGIN, F. W. 1885. Preliminary list f Kansas fishes. Bull. Washburn Coll. Lab. Nat. Hist. . (3) :105-111. CROSS, FRANK B. 1954. Fishes of Cedar Creek and the South Fork of the Cotton- wood River, Chase County, K nsas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 57(3): 303-314. EVERMANN, BARTON W. and ULYSSES D. Cox. 1896. Report upon the fishes of the Basin. Re t. U.S. Comm. Fish and Fisheries 1894: 325-429. GRAHAM, I. D. 1885. Preliminary list of Kansas fishes. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 9:69-78. HUBBS, CARL L. and More D. CANNON. 1935. The darters of the genera Hol- olepis and Vinc ra. Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool., Misc. Publ. 30:1-93, pls. 1-3. HUBBS, CARL L. and KARL F. LAGLER. 1947. Fishes of the Great Lakes Region. Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 26 (eevised edition) i-xi + 1-186, many pls. and figs. JORDAN, DAVID S. and CHARLES H. GIL ERT. 1887. List of fishes collected in Arkansas, Indian Territory, anc in September, 1884, with notes and descriptions. Proc. U.S. N t. Mus. 9(1886) :1-25. Intergradation of the Bullhead Minnow RAYMOND HAMPTON Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas The Wichita River system of North-central Texas is within the geographic range of the Parrot Minnow, vigilax vigilax Baird and Girard. The range of the bullhead minnow, Pimephales vigilax perspicuus (Girard), is given by Hubbs and Black (1947) as follows: from the Trinity River system of Texas east and north, avoiding the upper portion of the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma. This cor- responds with the range given by Knapp (1953). Early surveys of the fishes of North-central Texas did not disclose its presence in the Red River drainage system; but Bonn (1949) reported it, as Ceratichthys perspicuus, from Lake Texoma. Presumably it was introduced into Lake Texoma with bait minnows. With increased fishing in the Wichita Valley drainage area, due largely to the construction of several large lakes, exotic minnows are intro- duced into the waters in numbers, especially in the summer. Species from as far away as South Texas are commonly sold for bait at lakeside bait stands. Presumably in this way, specimens of the bullhead minnow have been released. Where the bullhead minnow and parrot minnow have come together, the two forms have intergraded (Cross, 1953). In the Wichita Valley area the minnows of the Pimephales vigilax type are almost completely mixed. Pimephales v. vigilax is characterized by breeding tubercles of the adult male arranged in a single row. P. v. perspicuus has a second row of 2 tubercles between the nostrils and 1 tubercle behind each nostril. Special efforts were made in the summer of 1953 to obtain adult male Pimephales vigilax from the Wichita River and its tributaries. At this time the population reaches its lowest point, and only 25 specimens were obtained. These specimens are deposited at Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas. Their catalog numbers are as follows: L. Smith 53; W. McKee 54; R. Wise 96; R. Hampton 52, 53, 54, 106, and 117; W. W. Dalquest 17106, 17107, 17116 through 17129, and 17131. Five of the specimens have an incomplete second row of tubercles and twenty have one row. Thus there is either a numerical or genetic domin- ance of the vigilax type over the perspicuus type. However, the incom- pleteness of the second row of tubercles, where present, provides evidence of intergradation in nature and substantiates the contention of Hubbs (1951) and Cross (1953) that perspicuus is a subspecies of vigilax. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 57, No. 4, 1954. [480]