Fish and Lamprey cwcs Species List

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Fish and Lamprey CWCS Species (59 species)


     Common name

     Scientific name


Alabama Shad

Alosa alabamae

Alligator Gar

Atractosteus spatula

Ashy Darter

Etheostoma cinereum

Blackfin Sucker

Thoburnia atripinnis

Blackside Dace

Phoxinus cumberlandensis

Blacktail Redhorse

Moxostoma poecilurum

Bloodfin Darter

Etheostoma sanguifluum

Blotched Chub

Erimystax insignis

Bluntface Shiner

Cyprinella camura

Brighteye Darter

Etheostoma lynceum

Brown Madtom

Noturus phaeus

Central Mudminnow

Umbra limi

Cumberland Arrow Darter

Etheostoma sagitta sagitta

Cumberland Johnny Darter

Etheostoma susanae

Cypress Darter

Etheostoma proeliare

Cypress Minnow

Hybognathus hayi

Dollar Sunfish

Lepomis marginatus

Duskytail Darter

Etheostoma percnurum

Emerald Darter

Etheostoma baileyi

Firebelly Darter

Etheostoma pyrrhogaster

Flathead Chub

Platygobio gracilis

Frecklebelly Darter

Percina stictogaster

Golden Topminnow

Fundulus chrysotus

Goldstripe Darter

Etheostoma parvipinne

Gulf Darter

Etheostoma swaini

Highland Rim Darter

Etheostoma kantuckeense

Inland Silverside

Menidia beryllina

Kentucky Arrow Darter

Etheostoma sagitta spilotum

Kentucky Darter

Etheostoma rafinesquei

Lake Chubsucker

Erimyzon sucetta

Lake Sturgeon

Acipenser fulvescens

Least Madtom

Noturus hildebrandi

Longhead Darter

Percina macrocephala

Northern Cavefish

Amblyopsis spelaea

Northern Madtom

Noturus stigmosus

Olive Darter

Percina squamata

Palezone Shiner

Notropis albizonatus

Pallid Sturgeon

Scaphirhynchus albus

Plains Minnow

Hybognathus placitus

Redspotted Sunfish

Lepomis miniatus

Relict Darter

Etheostoma chienense

Sawfin Shiner

Notropis sp. 4

Shawnee Darter

Etheostoma tecumsehi

Slender Madtom

Noturus exilis

Smallscale Darter

Etheostoma microlepidum

Southern Cavefish

Typhlichthys subterraneus

Splendid Darter

Etheostoma barrenense

Spotted Darter

Etheostoma maculatum

Stargazing Minnow

Phenacobius uranops

Starhead Topminnow

Fundulus dispar

Stone Darter

Etheostoma derivativum

Striped Darter

Etheostoma virgatum

Swamp Darter

Etheostoma fusiforme

Taillight Shiner

Notropis maculatus

Western Sand Darter

Ammocrypta clara

American Brook Lamprey

Lampetra appendix

Chestnut Lamprey

Ichthyomyzon castaneus

Mountain Brook Lamprey

Ichthyomyzon greeleyi

Northern Brook Lamprey

Ichthyomyzon fossor


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Alabama Shad                                                                                                   Alosa alabamae

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             C                  E                 G3               S1                   G3                        S1

    G-Trend        Decreasing

    G-Trend        Formerly distributed throughout the eastern Gulf Coastal drainages from

    Comment      Suwannee River, Florida to the Mississippi River (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

                            However, populations have greatly declined in the past 50 years. 

                          According to NatureServe (2004), the species currently has a very limited

                          distribution through the Gulf of Mexico tributaries.  In the Mississippi

                          River basin, populations there are small and are very rare (Etnier and

                          Starnes 1993, Pflieger 1975).  In Tennessee, this species was known from

                          the Clinch and Stones Rivers and was apparently widespread in Tennessee

                          during pre-impoundment days, but no recent  records have been reported in

                          Tennessee (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    S-Trend         Decreasing

    S-Trend         Formerly abundant in the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and probably only

    Comment      enters Kentucky’s waters during the spawning run (Burr and Warren 1986).

                            Limited commercial fishing for this species has occurred in the Ohio River,

                          with the harvest of several thousand pounds per year (NatureServe 2004).  

                          Burr and Warren (1986) reported only one recent record is available from

                          the Mississippi River near New Madrid, Missouri; other records for

                          Kentucky waters predate 1900.  The most recent record in Kentucky was a

                          large adult specimen collected in July 1986 from the Tennessee River just

                          below Kentucky Dam in Marshall County (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    Habitat /        This species is anadromous, with adults appearing in large spawning rivers

    Life History  from January-March. Eggs are deposited over coarse sand and gravel

                          substrates swept by moderate currents at temperatures of 19-22 C during

                          April (Etnier and Starnes 1993).   After spawning, adults migrate

                          downstream with young appearing in the Mississippi River in Missouri

                          between mid-July and early October (Pflieger 1975). Juveniles stay in fresh

                          water for 6-8 months before leaving the rivers by winter and generally

                          return to spawn when 3-4 years old (NatureServe 2004).

    Key               The most recent records are from the lower Tennessee (Kentucky Lake

    Habitat          HUC 06040005) and Mississippi (HUC 08010100) River drainages. 

                          Habitat conditions for the lower Tennessee are considered fully supporting

                          of aquatic life for just over 50% of stream miles surveyed and only 32% are

                          fully supporting in the Mississippi (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Alabama Shad                                                                                                   Alosa alabamae

    Guilds           Large rivers in current.

    Statewide      AlabamaShad.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2A     Navigational dredging/Commercial dredging

              2C     Construction/Operation of impoundments (migration barrier)

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4E      Agricultural runoff – including fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides, 

              4F      Urban runoff

              4G     Chemical spills and contaminants (applied and accidental)

              4K     Industrial waste discharge/runoff

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B      Agriculture

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Alligator Gar                                                                                             Atractosteus spatula

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  E               G3G4            S1                   G3                        S1

    G-Trend        Decreasing

    G-Trend        Historically, this species ranged from southwest Ohio, southern Indiana,

    Comment      and southern Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico in the Mississippi River Basin.

                          Currently, it occurs along the Gulf Coastal Plain from the Florida panhandle

                           to Veracruz, Mexico. The species is now extirpated or very rare in the

                          northern portion of its range, and appears to be declining in the southern

                          portions. Once occurring in 13 states, this species is considered extirpated 

                          in three, imperiled or critically imperiled in six, vulnerable three states, and

                          apparently secure in only one state. Most of the decline appears to be

                          related to habitat alterations and commercial fishing. However, some

                          populations of Alligator gar still support fisheries in Arkansas and

                          Louisiana (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    S-Trend         Decreasing

    S-Trend         Historically occurring in Kentucky as far up the Ohio River as Bracken

    Comment      County near Maysville (Trautman 1981). J. P. Kirtland noted this species

                          being captured  in the early 1800’s above Cincinnati.  Although Trautman

                          did not examine any specimens, he reported anecdotal evidence that the

                          species was present in the northern Kentucky area during the 1920’s

                          through the 1940’s. The species has not  been documented in Kentucky

                          since the late 1970’s. The most recent records include one from the lower

                          Cumberland River, two from the Ohio River at or below Paducah, and one

                          from the mouth of Bayou Du Chien (Fulton County) as it enters the

                          Mississippi River (Burr and Warren 1986). The Kentucky State Nature

                          Preserves Commission (2004) recommends a conservation status of

                          endangered for this species within the state.

    Habitat /        This species is one of the largest freshwater fishes in the U.S.. The largest

    Life History  known gar collected in Louisiana was 9 feet 8.5 inches and weighed 302

                          pounds (NatureServe 2004). These fish inhabits sluggish pools of large

                          rivers and their bayous, oxbows, and backwaters. The have been known to

                          occur in brackish water and rarely in coastal marine waters. Spawning can

                          occur from January through September depending on the latitude. These

                          fish spawn over vegetation and appear to require some flowing water during

                           spawning (NatureServe 2004). Their resiliency appears low, as any given

                          population has been estimated to need >14 years in order to double in size

                          (Froese and Pauly 2004). Alligator gars are considered to be


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Alligator Gar                                                                                             Atractosteus spatula

                          carnivores/piscivores. Although they eat mainly fish and crabs, food habit

                          studies have shown them to also consume turtles, waterfowl and other

                          birds, small mammals and are believed to scavenge (Etnier and Starnes

                          1993).

    Key               The most recent records are from near the mouth of the Ohio River and in

    Habitat          the Mississippi River bordering Kentucky. These include the lower

                          Cumberland River (HUC 05130205; 1 record), Kentucky Lake (HUC

                          06040005; 1 record), lower Ohio River (HUC 05140206; 2 records), and

                          lower Mississippi (HUC 08010100; 1 record). Habitat conditions fully

                          supporting aquatic life ranges from 32% (Mississippi HUC) to 75%

                          (Kentucky Lake HUC) of stream miles surveyed within these watersheds. 

                          Historically, this species occurred in the Middle Ohio-Laughery HUC

                          (05090203) between 1830 and 1840, Silver-Little Kentucky River HUC

                          (05140101) in the early 1800’s, and Ohio Brush-Whiteoak HUC

                          (05090201) between 1920 and 1940. No reports of Alligator gar have

                          subsequently been reported and it is thought the fish no longer exists in this

                          portion of the river.

    Guilds           Large rivers in slackwater.

    Statewide      AlligatorGar.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2C     Construction/Operation of impoundments (migration barrier)

              2E      Stream channelization/ditching

              2H     Wetland loss/drainage/alteration

              2L      Levee construction

         Biological/ consumptive uses

              5F      Low population densities

              5J       Incidental mortality due to commercial fishing/musseling (mortality and

                        overharvest)

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4J       Barge traffic

         Terrestrial habitat degradation

              3R      Habitat and/or Population Fragmentation


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Ashy Darter                                                                                            Etheostoma cinereum

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  S               G2G3            S3                   G2                        S3

    G-Trend        Decreasing

    G-Trend        The ashy darter is distributed sporadically in the Tennessee and

    Comment      Cumberland river drainages in Kentucky and Tennessee (NatureServe 2004).

                           This species has been extirpated from margins of its range in Georgia and

                          Alabama, and apparently in Virginia. It is a threatened species in Tennessee

                          (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    S-Trend         Stable

    S-Trend         This species occurs in the Little South Fork Cumberland River, South Fork

    Comment      Cumberland River, and Rockcastle River in Kentucky (Burr and Warren

                          1986).  It is possibly extirpated from the Red River (Logan County), but

                          was recently rediscovered in Buck Creek, Pulaski County (Compton and

                          Moeykens 2001).

    Habitat /        The ashy darter inhabits clear upland streams and rivers in slow to moderate

    Life History  current below and above riffles and in pools up to 1.75 meters deep (Burr

                          and Warren 1986). This species is usually associated with sand and gravel

                          substrates and boulders, tree snags, or water willow as cover. Spawning is

                          from late January to early April near boulders and water willow (Etnier and

                          Starnes 1993).

    Key               Currently known to occur in the Rockcastle River (HUC 05130102), Upper

    Habitat          Cumberland – Lake Cumberland (HUC 05130103), and South Fork

                          Cumberland (HUC 05130104) watersheds. Habitat conditions fully

                          supporting aquatic life ranges from 51.5% to 90.0% of stream miles

                          surveyed within these watersheds, all of which contain outstanding resource

                           waters (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).

    Guilds           Upland streams in pools.

    Statewide      AshyDarter.pdf

    Map           


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Ashy Darter                                                                                            Etheostoma cinereum

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2C     Construction/Operation of impoundments (migration barrier)

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1A     Coal mining


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blackfin Sucker                                                                                       Thoburnia atripinnis

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  S                 G2               S2                   G2                        S2

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        The blackfin sucker is endemic to the Barren River drainage basin. The

    Comment      Tennessee Valley Authority has documented 13 locality records from the

                          Tennessee portion of the Barren River (NatureServe 2004). The status of

                          these populations is unknown. Kentucky has documented 33 records for

                          this species from the 1940’s to the present. The status of these populations

                           is considered stable, although no current population data is available. The

                          American Fisheries Society lists the Blackfin sucker as a species of special

                          concern, while NatureServe (2004) lists it as imperiled in Kentucky and

                          critically imperiled in Tennessee.

    S-Trend         Stable

    S-Trend         This species is endemic to the Barren River drainage in southern Kentucky

    Comment      and a portion of northern Tennessee (Etnier and Starnes 1993). In

                          Kentucky, this small sucker (maximum length is 6 inches) resides in the

                          headwater streams of Allen, Barren, Metcalf, and Monroe counties. The

                          Blackfin sucker can be considered common in a drainage, although their

                          distribution may be very localized (Burr and Warren 1986). These fish

                          inhabit small to medium size upland headwater streams along the Highland

                          Rim in the southwestern portion of the state. The Kentucky State Nature

                          Preserves Commission has listed the Blackfin sucker as threatened and

                          recommended it be labeled as a species of special concern in Kentucky

                          (NatureServe 2004).

    Habitat /        Inhabits pool and riffle areas in clear water with moderate current and gravel

    Life History  or rubble substrates in creeks and medium sized rivers (NatureServe 2004).

                          They are benthic living on or near the bottom of the stream, and seek shelter

                           along shorelines with overhanging brush, near boulders, or in rock crevices

                          (Burr and Warren 1986). Diet consists primarily of microcrustacea and

                          insect larvae. Spawning occurs in shallow, swift water over riffles in the

                          early spring (March and April). After hatching, the young are found in

                          pools with moderate flow and in smaller tributaries over fine gravel (Etnier

                          and Starnes 1993).

    Key               Currently exists only in the upper Barren River (HUC 05110002).  Nearly

    Habitat          93% of the stream miles surveyed within this watershed have habitat

                          conditions fully supporting aquatic life and 14.7 miles of stream have been

                          deemed outstanding resource waters (Kentucky Division of Water 2004).


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blackfin Sucker                                                                                       Thoburnia atripinnis

    Guilds           Upland streams in pools.

    Statewide      BlackfinSucker.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2B      Gravel/sand removal or quarrying (e.g., mineral excavation)

              2E      Stream channelization/ditching

         Biological/ consumptive uses

              5F      Low population densities

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4E      Agricultural runoff – including fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides, 

              4G     Chemical spills and contaminants (applied and accidental)

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B      Agriculture


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blackside Dace                                                                              Phoxinus cumberlandensis

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                            LT                 T                 G2               S2                   G2                        S2

    G-Trend        Decreasing

    G-Trend        The blackside dace are restricted to the Cumberland Plateau portion of the

    Comment      upper Cumberland drainage and are found above and below Cumberland

                          Falls in Kentucky and Tennessee (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    S-Trend         Decreasing

    S-Trend         Populations of the blackside dace in Kentucky are believed to be stable to

    Comment      slightly declining with the complete loss of several populations in Bell

                          County probably as a result of logging and urban sprawl rather than from

                          mining activities (David Eisenhour, Morehead State University, personnel

                          communications).  In Kentucky, the blackside dace is known from 91

                          streams with only 22 streams supported excellent or good populations;

                          most populations were very small and near extirpation (NatureServe 2004).

                           Kentucky streams that receive a high degree of protection include the Bad

                          Branch, Eagle Creek, Watts Creek, Beaver Creek and associated tributaries,

                          and Davis Branch.  The blackside dace also occurs in several streams on

                          Daniel Boone National Forest, but these do not receive the same high degree

                           of protection as the previously mentioned streams; Cannon Creek also have

                           blackside dace populations and is protected to some degree by being

                          designated as unsuitable for mining (NatureServe 2004).

    Habitat /        Confined to small upland creeks, usually 300-500 m in elevation, and are 2-

    Life History  5 m in width (Burr and Warren 1986).  Typically found in sluggish pools of

                          shaded and cool streams that have a riffle to pool ratio that approaches

                          60:40 (Burr and Warren 1986).  This species is usually also associated with

                          lush riparian vegetation, canopy cover greater than 70%, and unsilted

                          conditions and apparently can recolonize areas when water quality or

                          habitat conditions become more favorable if suitable dispersal corridors exist

                           (NatureServe 2004).

    Key               Currently exists in the South Fork Cumberland (HUC 05130104), Upper

    Habitat          Cumberland (HUC 05130101), Rockcastle River (HUC 05130102), and

                          Upper Cumberland Lake Cumberland (HUC 05130103) watersheds.  The

                          Upper Cumberland (HUC 05130101) contains the majority of these

                          records.  Habitat conditions fully supporting aquatic life ranges from 67%

                          (Upper Cumberland-Lake Cumberland HUC) to 90% (South Fork

                          Cumberland HUC) of stream miles surveyed within these watersheds.  All


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blackside Dace                                                                              Phoxinus cumberlandensis

                          contain outstanding resource waters (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).

    Guilds           Upland headwater streams in pools.

    Statewide      BlacksideDace.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2C     Construction/Operation of impoundments (migration barrier)

              2E      Stream channelization/ditching

         Biological/ consumptive uses

              5A     Predation from introduced species

              5D     Competition from introduced/invasive or native species

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4A     Acid mine drainage  other coal mining impacts

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1A     Coal mining

              1B      Agriculture

              1C     Road construction

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction

              1E      Silviculture


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blacktail Redhorse                                                                              Moxostoma poecilurum

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  E                 G5               S1                   G5                        S1

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        Gulf Slope drainages from Galveston Bay tributaries, Texas, to

    Comment      Choctawhatchee River drainage, Alabama and Florida; Mississippi River

                          tributaries from southern Kentucky and southern Arkansas south to

                          Louisiana.  Found only in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,

                          Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.  This

                          species is broadly distributed in the southeastern U.S. and often abundant in

                           rivers, reservoirs, small to large streams, swamps, and the Mobile Delta

                          (Mettee et al. 1996).  According to NatureServe (2004), this species is

                          locally common, but rare in Kentucky and Tennessee.  It is considered

                          secure (S5) or apparently secure (S4) in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee,

                          Texas and Tennessee; vulnerable (S3) in Georgia; imperiled in Arkansas; and

                           critically imperiled (S1) in Kentucky.

    S-Trend         Unknown

    S-Trend         This species reaches the northernmost limit of its range in in the

    Comment      southwestern corner of the state, where it occurs only in Terrapin Creek,

                          Graves County (Burr and Warrren 1986).  It is considered critically

                          imperiled (S1) in Kentucky (NatureServe 2004).

    Habitat /        Little is known about the biology of this species. Spawning occurs in mid-

    Life History  to late spring in shoal areas of small streams (Etnier and Starnes 1993).  In

                          Terrapin Creek, both adults and juveniles have been collected from sandy

                          bottomed pools; however, the closest reproducing population known occurs

                           downstream in the Obion River in Tennessee (Burr and Carney 1984).

    Key               Occurs only in Obion Creek HUC8 (08010202).  Habitat conditions fully

    Habitat          supporting aquatic life is about 28% of the stream miles surveyed in this

                          watershed, with a total of 1.7 stream miles considered outstanding resource

                          water (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).

    Guilds           Lowland Streams in slackwater.

    Statewide      BlacktailRedhorse.pdf

    Map           


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blacktail Redhorse                                                                              Moxostoma poecilurum

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2B      Gravel/sand removal or quarrying (e.g., mineral excavation)

              2C     Construction/Operation of impoundments (migration barrier)

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B      Agriculture

              1C     Road construction

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction

              1E      Silviculture


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Bloodfin Darter                                                                                 Etheostoma sanguifluum

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                 N              G4G5          S4S5                 G4                        S4

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        The bloodfin darter occurs in the middle Cumberland River drainage, from

    Comment      Caney Fork, Tennessee, to Rockcastle River, Kentucky (Natureserve 2004).

    S-Trend         Stable

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, this species is restricted to the middle Cumberland River

    Comment      where it is generally distributed and common in the Rockcastle River, Big

                          and Little South Forks, and Buck Creek (Burr and Warren 1986).

    Habitat /        Occurs in small to medium upland streams and rivers along or near the

    Life History  Pottsville Escarpment and the easternmost region of the Highland Rim. 

                          Inhabits moderate to rapid currents or riffles with substrates of boulder,

                          cobble, and pebble.  Spawning and nest-building occur in the interspaces

                          between the substrate and overlying rocks (Burr and Warren 1986).

    Key               Currently known to occur in the Rockcastle River HUC8 (05130102),

    Habitat          Upper Cumberland – Lake Cumberland HUC8 (05130103), South Fork

                          Cumberland HUC8 (05130104).  Habitat conditions fully supporting

                          aquatic life range from 67.3% (Upper Cumberland – Lake Cumberland

                          HUC8) to 90.0% (South Fork Cumberland HUC8) of stream miles

                          surveyed within these watersheds, all of which contain outstanding resource

                           waters (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).

    Guilds           Upland streams in riffles.

    Statewide      BloodfinDarter.pdf

    Map            


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Bloodfin Darter                                                                                 Etheostoma sanguifluum

  Conservation Issues

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4A     Acid mine drainage  other coal mining impacts

              4B      Waste water discharge (e.g., sewage treatment)

              4E      Agricultural runoff – including fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides, 

              4F      Urban runoff

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1A     Coal mining

              1B      Agriculture

              1C     Road construction

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction

              1E      Silviculture


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blotched Chub                                                                                             Erimystax insignis

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  E               G3G4            S1                   G3                        S1

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        The blotched chub occurs in the Cumberland and Tennessee river drainages

    Comment      of southern Kentucky, Tennessee, western Virginia, western North

                          Carolina, northern Georgia, and northern Alabama. (Natureserve 2004).

    S-Trend         Decreasing

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, this species is sporadic and uncommon in the upper

    Comment      Cumberland River (below the falls) where it is known from five localities.  It

                           was collected in the Red River (of the middle Cumberland) by Kentucky

                          State Nature Preserves Commission in the early 1980’s (Burr and Warren

                          1986).  Reports of this species in the Green and Kentucky River systems

                          are based on the superficially similar streamline chub (Burr and Warren

                          1986)

    Habitat /        Occurs in riffle areas in medium to large-size streams and rivers, where there

    Life History  is continuous flow, clear, and gravel or rocky bottom (Burr and Warren

                          1986).  Its habitat is similar to those of the streamline chub, however this

                          species prefers slightly coarser substrates and tolerating much smaller

                          streams (Etnier and Starnes 1993).  Spawning occurs in mid-April through

                          early May as water temperature approaches 15 C (60F). Sexual maturity is

                          reached at age-1. Life span is 2.5 years.  Food consists of about half

                          periphyton and half aquatic insect larvae dominated by dipterans and

                          mayflies.  Maximum total length is 100 mm SL (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    Key               Although known historically from four HUC8 watershed units in

    Habitat          Kentucky, the only recent records (post-1984) are from the Red River (of

                          the Cumberland) HUC (05130206).  Habitat conditions in the Red River

                          HUC8 are good as 73.1% of assessed streams were found to be fully

                          supporting aquatic life. A total of 43.7 miles of streams in this HUC8 are

                          considered outstanding resource waters (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).

    Guilds           Upland streams in pools.

    Statewide      BlotchedChub.pdf

    Map           


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Blotched Chub                                                                                             Erimystax insignis

  Conservation Issues

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4B      Waste water discharge (e.g., sewage treatment)

              4E      Agricultural runoff – including fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides, 

              4F      Urban runoff

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B      Agriculture

              1C     Road construction

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction

              1E      Silviculture


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Bluntface Shiner                                                                                          Cyprinella camura

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  E                 G5               S1                   G5                        S1

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        The bluntface shiner is common in eastern tributaries to the lower

    Comment      Mississippi River from Obion Creek south (Etnier and Starnes 1993). It

                          also occurs in a few southwestern tributaries to the Tennessee River and the

                           Central Arkansas River drainage.

    S-Trend         Stable

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, this species is known to occur only in Terrapin Creek in

    Comment      Graves County and Obion Creek in Hickman County (Burr and Warren

                          1986). It is considered critically imperiled in Kentucky (NatureServe, 2004)

                          and endangered by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

                          (2004).

    Habitat /        The bluntface shiner is restricted to small sand or gravel-bottomed streams

    Life History  in raceways and riffles on the Coastal Plain (Burr and Warren 1986). This

                          species is normally near submerged logs. Spawning may occur from May

                          through August (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    Key               Currently known to occur in the Bayou du Chien – Mayfield (HUC

    Habitat          08010201) and Obion Creek (HUC 08010202) watersheds. Habitat

                          conditions in these watersheds considered fully supporting of aquatic life

                          include 27.8% (Bayou du Chien-Mayfield HUC8) and 37.0% (Obion Creek

                          HUC8) of stream miles surveyed within these watersheds.  Both contain

                          outstanding resource waters (Kentucky Division of Water, 2002).

    Guilds           Lowland Streams in riffles.

    Statewide      BluntfaceShiner.pdf

    Map           


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Bluntface Shiner                                                                                          Cyprinella camura

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2E      Stream channelization/ditching.  Burr and Warren (1986)

              2F      Riparian zone removal (Agriculture/development).  Burr and Warren (1986)

              2H     Wetland loss/drainage/alteration .  Burr and Warren (1986)

         Biological/ consumptive uses

              5D     Competition from introduced/invasive or native species.  Burr and Warren

                        (1986)

              5E      Hybridization with closely related species.  Burr and Warren (1986)

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B      Agriculture.  Burr and Warren (1986)


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Brighteye Darter                                                                                      Etheostoma lynceum

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  E                 G5               S1                   G5                        S1

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        Formerly considered a subspecies of the banded darter, the brighteye darter

    Comment      was elevated to species status by Etnier and Starnes (1986). This species is

                          distributed throughout the upper Coastal Plain east of the Mississippi

                          River from the Obion River system in Tennessee and Kentucky south and

                          east through Pascagoula River drainage of Mississippi and western Alabama

                           (Etnier and Starnes, 1993).  Although species continues to be common in

                          better quality streams within its range, some populations have likely been

                          eliminated by channelization (Etnier and Starnes, 1993).

    S-Trend         Unknown

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, this species is confined to Terrapin Creek in Graves County. 

    Comment      It is considered critically imperiled in Kentucky (NatureServe, 2004 and

                          endangered by the  Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (2004).

    Habitat /        Occurs in Coastal Plain streams with noticeable flow over a substrate of

    Life History  gravel riffles or an accumulation of detrital material, often where rooted

                          aquatic vegetation is present (Etnier and Starnes, 1993).  Bell and Timmons

                          (1991) documented the species occurring in dense tree roots around

                          undercut banks during the winter and in fast flowing, shallow gravel riffles

                          during the summer.  Diet consisted mainly of midge larvae (Chironomidae). 

                          Reproduction occurred from April to June, with fecundity estimates ranging

                            from 33-116 to 65-201 mature ova per age-1 female.  Although Bell and

                          Timmons (1991) did not observe spawning activity in the field or lab, it is

                          probably similar to that of the banded [personal communication, L.

                          Kornman] in which the female attaches eggs to filamentous algae and aquatic

                           mosses attached to rocks and other submerged objects. Eggs are deposited a

                           few at a time as the male mounts the female and fertilized the eggs (Pflieger,

                           1977 citing Walters, 1994).

    Key               Currently known to occur only in the Obion Creek (HUC 08010202)

    Habitat          watershed (Terrapin Creek, Graves County).  Habitat conditions fully

                          supporting of aquatic life include 27.8% of stream miles surveyed within

                          this watershed.  It contains 1.7 stream miles regarded as outstanding

                          resource water (Kentucky Division of Water, 2002).


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Brighteye Darter                                                                                      Etheostoma lynceum

    Guilds           Lowland Streams in riffles.

    Statewide      BrighteyeDarter.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2B      Gravel/sand removal or quarrying (e.g., mineral excavation)

              2D     Woody debris removal

              2E      Stream channelization/ditching

              2F      Riparian zone removal (Agriculture/development)

         Miscellaneous Mortality Factors

              6G     Stochastic events (droughts, unusual weather, pine beetle damage, flooding

                        etc.)

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4B      Waste water discharge (e.g., sewage treatment)

              4E      Agricultural runoff – including fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides, 

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B      Agriculture


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Brown Madtom                                                                                                 Noturus phaeus

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  E                 G4               S1                   G4                        S1

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        The brown madtom occurs in Mississippi River tributaries in southwestern

    Comment      Kentucky, western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and northwestern

                          Alabama; and disjunctly in southern Arkansas, Louisiana, and southwestern

                           Mississippi; Tennessee River tributaries in western Tennessee and

                          northwestern Alabama; Gulf Slope in Sabine River and Bayou Teche

                          drainages (Natureserve 2004).  Although only a few are collected at a time at

                           any given locality, they are considered locally common (Natureserve 2004).

    S-Trend         Stable

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, this species is known to occur only in Terrapin and Powell

    Comment      creeks, Graves County (Burr and Warren 1986).  Within Terrapin Creek, it

                          is locally common.  No observations have been made in Powell Creek since

                          1984 (Burr and Warren 1986, D. Eisenhour, Morehead State University,

                          personal communication).  It is considered critically imperiled in Kentucky

                          (NatureServe, 2004) and endangered by the Kentucky State Nature

                          Preserves Commission (2004).

    Habitat /        Occurs in permanent springs and small streams with vegetation in moderate

    Life History  to fast current (NatureServe 2004).  Specific habitat includes sand-gravel

                          riffles and runs among debris, rocks, and undercut banks of springs, creeks,

                          and small rivers (NatureServe 2004). In northern Mississippi, woody debris

                           and undercut banks were primary daytime microhabitats, and individuals

                          most often were in areas with complex (varying) flow; none were found in

                          the absence of debris, aquatic vegetation, or undercut banks (NatureServe

                          2004).  Diet of the brown madtom consists primarily of dipteran and

                          trichopteran larvae and crayfishes (NatureServe 2004).

    Key               Currently known to occur only in the Obion Creek (HUC 08010202)

    Habitat          watershed (Terrapin Creek, Graves County).  Habitat conditions fully

                          supporting of aquatic life include 27.8% of stream miles surveyed within

                          this watershed.  It contains 1.7 stream miles regarded as outstanding

                          resource water (Kentucky Division of Water, 2002).

    Guilds           Lowland Streams in riffles.


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Brown Madtom                                                                                                 Noturus phaeus

    Statewide      BrownMadtom.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2C     Construction/Operation of impoundments (migration barrier)

         Biological/ consumptive uses

              5K     Lack of suitable habitat for spawning, nesting, or breeding

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B      Agriculture

              1C     Road construction

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Central Mudminnow                                                                                                Umbra limi

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  T                 G5            S2S3                 G5                        S2

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        The central mudminnow occurs in north central North America in the St.

    Comment      Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River

                          basins from Quebec to Manitoba and south to central Ohio, western

                          Tennessee, and northeastern Arkansas; Hudson River drainage (Atlantic

                          Slope), New York; isolated populations occur in the Missouri River

                          drainage of east-central South Dakota and western Iowa (NatureServe

                          2004).  It is common in northern glacial regions but uncommon southward.

                          The Coastal Plain of western Tennessee and northern Arkansas mark the

                          southernmost distribution of this species (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    S-Trend         Decreasing

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, this species is at the southern most edge of its range, where

    Comment      populations seem to be stable to slightly declining  (D. Eisenhour,

                          Morehead State University, personal communication). It is occasional to

                          locally common in the Clarks and Blood River drainages, and Terrapin

                          Creek and Running Slough, Fulton County (Burr and Warren 1986).  It is

                          considered imperiled in Kentucky (NatureServe, 2004) and threatened by

                          the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (2004).

    Habitat /        Inhabits dense beds of submergent vegetation or piles of organic debris in

    Life History  spring-fed wetlands, ditches, or shallow margins of lowland lakes in the

                          Coastal Plain (Clay 1975).  This species usually prefers non-turbid water

                          over substrates of sand, mud, and organic debris. Spawning occurs in

                          shallow water during the spring water temperatures reach 13° C (55° F). 

                          Eggs are adhesive and deposited on vegetation.  Life span has been reported

                          to range between 4 and 9 years (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    Key               Currently known to occur in four HUC8 watersheds:  Kentucky Lake

    Habitat          (HUC 06040005; 3 records), Lower Tennessee River (HUC 06040006; 8

                          records), Bayou De Chien-Mayfield (HUC 08010201; 2 records), and

                          Obion Creek (HUC 08010202; 19 records). Habitat conditions fully

                          supporting aquatic life range from 27% (Obion Creek HUC) to 74.9%

                          (Kentucky Lake HUC) of stream miles surveyed within these watersheds. 

                          Number of stream miles considered outstanding resource waters range from

                          none (Kentucky Lake HUC) to 124.4 (Bayou du Chien-Mayfield Creek

                          HUC) (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Central Mudminnow                                                                                                Umbra limi

    Guilds           Lowland Streams in slackwater.

    Statewide      CentralMudminnow.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2E      Stream channelization/ditching

              2F      Riparian zone removal (Agriculture/development)

              2I       Periodic cessation or removal of spring flows or seeps

         Biological/ consumptive uses

              5F      Low population densities

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Cumberland Arrow Darter                                                             Etheostoma sagitta sagitta

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                 N              G3G4            S4                   G3                        S4

                                                                   T3T4

    G-Trend        Unknown

    G-Trend        This subspecies of the arrow darter is an inhabitant of the Cumberland

    Comment      Plateau physiographic province (Etnier and Starnes 1993).  It ranges from

                          eastern tributaries to the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River System in

                           Kentucky and Tennessee (Etnier and Starnes 1993).  Global trend data is

                          unknown.

    S-Trend         Stable

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, the Cumberland arrow darter is endemic to the Cumberland

    Comment      River Drainage (Burr and Warren 1986).  It has been collected both above

                          and below the Cumberland Falls (Etnier and Starnes 1993).  The

                          Cumberland arrow darter is considered secure in Kentucky and populations

                          are currently stable (D. Eisenhour, Morehead State University, personal

                          communication; Natureserve 2004).

    Habitat /        Generally inhabits headwater creeks, but juveniles and occasionally adults

    Life History  may be taken in medium sized streams (Burr and Warren 1986).  It occurs in

                           sluggish pools or areas above and below riffles over substrates of bedrock,

                          cobble, and pebble (Burr and Warren 1986), and is commonly found

                          associated with large, flat stones (Page 1983).  Spawning takes place in

                          April when water temperatures are around 13° C. (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

                            Common food items include mayflies, midges, and stoneflies (Page 1983). 

                          This species is moderately tolerant to siltation (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

    Key               Currently known to occur in the Upper Cumberland (HUC 05130101),

    Habitat          Upper Cumberland-Lake Cumberland (HUC 05130103), and South Fork

                          Cumberland (HUC8 051301014) watersheds.  Habitat conditions fully

                          supporting aquatic life range from 67% (Upper Cumberland-Lake

                          Cumberland) to 90% (South Fork Cumberland) of stream miles surveyed

                          within these watersheds.  Most records lie within the Upper Cumberland

                          HUC, which contains 404.4 stream miles considered outstanding resource

                          water (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).

    Guilds           Upland headwater streams in pools.


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Cumberland Arrow Darter                                                             Etheostoma sagitta sagitta

    Statewide      CumberlandArrowDarter.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4A     Acid mine drainage  other coal mining impacts

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1A     Coal mining


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Cumberland Johnny Darter                                                                      Etheostoma susanae

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             C                  E                 G2               S1                   G2                        S1

    G-Trend        Decreasing

    G-Trend        The Cumberland johnny darter is found in the Cumberland River drainage

    Comment      above Cumberland Falls in eastern Kentucky and adjacent Tennessee

                          (NatureServe 2004).

    S-Trend         Decreasing

    S-Trend         This species is found only in tributaries to the Cumberland River drainage

    Comment      above Cumberland Falls (NatureServe 2004).

    Habitat /        Inhabits shallow water in low velocity shoals and backwater areas of

    Life History  moderate gradient streams with sand or sandy gravel substrate (NatureServe

                           2004). Spawning occurs in April and May.

    Key               Restricted to the Upper Cumberland River (HUC 05130101) drainage.

    Habitat          Habitat conditions fully supporting aquatic life include 70.3% of stream

                          miles surveyed within this watershed, in which 404.4 stream miles are

                          considered outstanding resource waters (Kentucky Division of Water 2002).

    Guilds           Upland headwater streams in pools.

    Statewide      CumberlandJohnnyDarter.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1A     Coal mining

              1B      Agriculture

              1C     Road construction

              1D     Urbanization/Development  General Construction

              1E      Silviculture


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Cypress Darter                                                                                       Etheostoma proeliare

                        Federal      Heritage      GRank        SRank       GRank                SRank

                        Status         Status                                                 (Simplified)         (Simplified)

                             N                  T                 G5               S2                   G5                        S2

    G-Trend        Stable

    G-Trend        The cypress darter ranges from the Choctawhatchee River in Florida to the

    Comment      San Jacinto River in Texas, north through the Mississippi Valley to

                          southern Illinois and eastern Oklahoma (Page 1983, Etnier and Starnes 1993,

                           Natureserve 2004).

    S-Trend         Unknown

    S-Trend         In Kentucky, this species is sporadic and rare in creeks, streams, sloughs,

    Comment      and oxbows that border the Mississippi and lower Ohio Rivers, and the

                          lower Cumberland and Tennessee River drainages (Burr and Warren 1986). 

                          It is considered imperiled in Kentucky (NatureServe, 2004) and threatened

                          by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (2004).

    Habitat /        Inhabits lowland creeks, oxbow lakes, and wetland flood plains of the Ohio,

    Life History  Mississippi, lower Tennessee, and lower Cumberland Rivers.  This species

                          is generally associated with leaf-laden and/or vegetated water bodies in

                          sluggish current, pools, or shorelines of lakes.  Tree roots along undercut

                          banks may also harbor the species if other cover is absent (Burr and Warren

                          1986).  Sexual maturity is reached at one year of age.  Spawning occurs from

                           mid-March to early June.  Females contain 26-116 eggs and deposit them

                          on dead leaves, twigs, rock and filamentous algae.  Eggs are not guarded and

                          hatch in 5-13 days based on temperature.  Life span is 1.5 years.  Principal

                          food items are midge larvae and microcrusteaceans (Page 1983, Etnier and

                          Starnes 1993).

    Key               Currently known to occur in eight HUC8 watersheds: Lower Cumberland

    Habitat          (HUC 05130205), Lower Ohio - Bay (HUC 05140203), Lower Ohio (HUC

                           05140206), Kentucky Lake (HUC 06040005), Lower Tennessee (HUC

                          06040006), Lower Mississippi – Memphis (HUC 08010100), Bayou De

                          Chien – Mayfield (HUC 08010201), and Obion Creek (HUC 08010202). 

                          Habitat conditions fully supporting aquatic life range from 0% (Lower

                          Mississippi – Memphis HUC) to 74.9% (Lower Tennessee-Kentucky Lake

                           HUC) of stream miles surveyed, of which 154.6  are considered

                          outstanding resource waters (Kentucky Division of Water 2002 and 2004).

    Guilds           Lowland Streams in slackwater.


  CLASS       ACTINOPTERYGII

 

  Cypress Darter                                                                                       Etheostoma proeliare

    Statewide      CypressDarter.pdf

    Map           

  Conservation Issues

         Aquatic habitat degradation

              2E      Stream channelization/ditching

              2H     Wetland loss/drainage/alteration

         Point and non-point source pollution

              4E      Agricultural runoff – including fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides, 

         Siltation and increased turbidity

              1B