Fishes of Chautauqua, Cowley and Elk Counties, Kansas

by Artie L. Metcalf

ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES

Lepisosteus osseus oxyurus (Linnaeus): Stations A-1, W-2, W-3, G-2, G-3, G-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-5, C-8.

Of 34 longnose gar taken, 27 were young-of-the-year. The latter were from shallow isolated pools (bedrock bottom at C-1, C-3, C-4; gravel bottom at C-6). At station W-1 in moderate flood conditions several young-of-the-year were found in the most sheltered water next to the banks.

The longnose gar was found only in the lower parts of the streams surveyed (but were observed by me in smaller tributaries of these streams in years when the streams had a greater volume of flow). A preference for downstream habitat is suggested in several other surveys: Cross (1950:134, 1954a:307) on the South Fork of the Cottonwood and on Stillwater Creek; Cross and Moore (1952:401) on the Poteau and Fourche Maline rivers; Moore and Buck (1953:21) on the Chikaskia River.

Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque: One shortnose gar (K. U. 3157) has been taken from the Arkansas River in Cowley County. This gar was taken by Mr. Richard Rinker on a bank line on April 10, 1955, at station A-3.

Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur): Stations W-3, G-4, C-4, C-5, M-1, E-1, E-4.

In smaller streams such as the Elk and Caney rivers adult gizzard shad seemed scarce. They were more common in collections made in larger rivers (Walnut, Verdigris, and Neosho). In impoundments of this region shad often become extremely abundant. Schoonover (1954:173) found that shad comprised 97 per cent by number and 83 per cent by weight of fishes taken in a survey of Fall River Reservoir.

Carpiodes carpio carpio (Rafinesque): Stations A-1, A-2, A-3, W-3, G-1, C-3.

Hubbs and Lagler (1947:50) stated that the river carpsucker was "Mostly confined to large silty rivers." Of the stations listed above C-3 least fits this description being a large shallow pool about ⅓ acre in area having bedrock bottom and slightly turbid water. The other stations conform to conditions described by Hubbs and Lagler (loc. cit.).

Carpiodes velifer (Rafinesque): SBS. Three specimens of the highfin carpsucker (K. U. 177-179) were collected on July 11, 1912, from an unspecified location on Elk River in Elk County.

Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque): Stations W-3, G-1, G-2, C-1, C-3, C-4, C-6, E-1, E-2, E-3.

The smallmouth buffalo shared the downstream proclivities of the river carpsucker. In half of the collections (G-2, C-1, E-1, E-2, E-3) only large juveniles were taken; in the other half only young-of-the-year were found. In one pool at station C-1 hundreds of young buffalo and gar were observed. This large shallow pool was 100 × 150 feet, with an average depth of 8 inches. The bottom consisted of bedrock. Station C-6 was a small pool with bedrock bottom, eight feet in diameter, with an average depth of only 4 inches. Station E-3 was also a small isolated pool with bedrock bottom and an average depth of 6 inches.

Ictiobus niger (Rafinesque): Station C-5.

Only two specimens of the black buffalo were taken. An adult was caught on spinning tackle, with doughballs for bait. The second specimen was a juvenile taken by seining one mile below Station C-5 on September 22.

Ictiobus cyprinella (Valenciennes): Station G-2.

Two juvenal bigmouth buffalo were taken in a shallow pool, along with several juvenal smallmouth buffalo.

Moxostoma aureolum pisolabrum Trautman and Moxostoma carinatum (Cope): SBS.

Two specimens of Moxostoma aureolum pisolabrum (K. U. 242-243) and one specimen of Moxostoma carinatum (K. U. 223) were taken from an unspecified locality on Elk River in Elk County on July 11, 1912. There are no other records for any of these fish in the collection area. M. aureolum pisolabrum has been taken in recent years in eastern Kansas (Trautman, 1951:3) and has been found as far west as the Chikaskia drainage in northern Oklahoma by Moore and Buck (1953:21). That occasional northern redhorse enter the larger rivers of the area here reported on seems probable.

M. carinatum has been reported only a few times from Kansas. The only recent records are from the Verdigris River (Schelske, 1957:39). Elkins (1954:28) took four specimens of M. carinatum from cutoff pools on Salt Creek in Osage County, Oklahoma, in 1954. This recent record suggests that occurrences in southern Kansas are probable.

Moxostoma erythrurum (Rafinesque): Stations G-5, G-7, G-10, G-12, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-8, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-15, E-1, E-2, E-4 (C-131, C-133, C-136).

The golden redhorse was common in several of the streams surveyed, and utilized the upland parts of streams more extensively than any of the other catostomids occurring in the area. M. erythrurum and Ictiobus bubalus were taken together at only two stations. In no case was I. bubalus taken from a tributary of Grouse Creek or of Big Caney River. In contrast M. erythrurum reached its greatest concentrations in such habitat, although it was always a minor component of the total fish population. Stations C-5 and E-2 were the lowermost environments in which this redhorse was taken.

The largest relative number of golden redhorse was found at station G-12 on Crab Creek where 7.5 per cent of the fishes taken were of this species. This station consisted of intermittent pools averaging one foot in depth. Bottoms were bedrock and rubble and the water was clear and shaded. The fish were consistently taken in the deeper, open part of the pool where aquatic vegetation, which covered most of the pool, was absent.

Another station at which M. erythrurum was abundant was C-12 on Cedar Creek. Here a long, narrow, clear pool was the habitat, with average depth of 17 inches, and bottom of bedrock.

Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque): Stations G-10, C-4, C-12, E-1.

Occurrences of the spotted sucker were scattered. At stations C-4 and G-10 single specimens were taken. At station E-1 (July 9) one specimen was taken at the mouth of a small tributary where water was turbid and quiet. This specimen (K. U. 3708) was the largest (9⅜ inches total length) found, and possessed pits of lost tubercles.

Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus: Stations A-1, W-1, W-2, W-3, W-4, G-3, G-4, G-6, G-8, C-3, C-5, E-4.

Carp were taken most often in downstream habitat. No carp were taken above station C-5 on Big Caney River.

The earliest date on which young were taken was July 7, when 46 specimens, approximately ½ inch in total length, were taken from the Walnut River at station W-1. The small carp showed a preference for small shallow pools; adults were found in deeper pools.

Hybopsis aestivalis tetranemus (Gilbert): Station A-3.

Only one specimen of the speckled chub was taken. The species has been recorded from nearby localities in the Arkansas River and its tributaries both in Kansas and Oklahoma. Its habitat seems to be shallow water over clean, fine sand, and it occurs in strong current in mid-channel in the Arkansas River. Suitable habitat does not occur in other parts of the area covered by this report.

Notropis blennius (Girard): Stations A-1, A-2, A-3.

The river shiner was taken only in the Arkansas River and in small numbers. In all instances N. blennius was found over sandy bottom in flowing water. Females were gravid at station A-1 on June 14. To my knowledge there are no published records of this shiner from the Arkansas River Basin in Kansas. In Oklahoma this species prefers the large, sandy streams such as the Arkansas River. Cross and Moore (1952:403) found it in the Poteau River only near the mouth.

Notropis boops Gilbert: Stations G-5, G-7, C-3, C-5, C-8, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-15, C-16, E-4, E-5, M-1, M-2.

Widespread occurrence of the bigeye shiner in this area seems surprising. Except for this area it is known in Kansas only from the Spring River drainage in the southeastern corner of the state (Cross, 1954b:474). N. boops chose habitats that seemed most nearly like Ozarkian terrain. The largest relative number of bigeye shiners was taken at C-11 in a clear stream described in the discussion of Notropis rubellus. At this station N. boops comprised 14.11 per cent, and N. boops and N. rubellus together comprised 24.78 per cent of all fish taken.

At station G-7 on Grouse Creek the percentage of N. boops was 7.15. Here, as at station C-11, water was clear. At both stations Myriophyllum heterophyllum was abundant and at G-7 Nelumbo lutea was also common. At G-7 N. boops seemed most abundant in the deeper water, but at C-11 most shiners were found in the shallower part of a large pool.

Two other collections in which N. boops were common were from Spring Creek. It is a small, clear Flint Hills brook running swiftly over clean gravel and rubble. It had, however, been intermittent or completely dry in its upper portion throughout the winter of 1955-'56 and until June 22, 1956. In collections at C-15 on June 28, N. boops formed 6.5 per cent of the fish taken. Farther upstream, at C-16 on July 9, in an area one mile from the nearest pool of water that existed prior to the rains of June 22, N. boops made up 7.2 per cent of the fish taken.

In streams heading in the hilly area of western Elk County, the relative abundance of Notropis boops decreased progressively downstream. On upper Elk River percentages were lower than on upper Grouse Creek and upper Big Caney River.

Hubbs and Lagler (1947:66) characterize the habitat of this species as clear creeks of limestone uplands. There are numerous records of the bigeye shiner from extreme eastern Oklahoma. It has been reported as far west as Beaver Creek in Osage County, Oklahoma. Beaver Creek originates in Cowley County, Kansas, near the origin of Cedar Creek and Crab Creek. Drought had left a few pools of water in Beaver Creek in Kansas at the time of my survey. The fish-fauna seemed sparse and N. boops was not among the species taken. Of interest in considering the somewhat isolated occurrence of the bigeye shiner in the Flint Hills area of Kansas is a record of it by Ortenburger and Hubbs (1926:126) from Panther Creek, Comanche County, Oklahoma, in the Wichita Mountain area of that state.

Notropis buchanani Meek: Stations G-1, E-4 (C-131).

At station G-1 the ghost shiner was taken in small numbers in the shallow end of a long pool (150 × 40 feet.) The three individuals taken at station E-4 were in an isolated pool (50 × 510 feet) averaging 1½ feet in depth. Water was turbid, and warm due to lack of shade.

The habitat preferences of this species and of the related species N. volucellus have been described as follows by Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b:68): "It seems probable that volucellus when occurring in the range of buchanani occupies upland streams, whereas buchanani is chiefly a form of the large rivers and adjacent creek mouths." The results of this survey and impressions gained from other collections, some of which are unpublished, are in agreement with this view. A collection on the Verdigris River at Independence, Kansas, directly downstream from the mouth of the Elk River, showed N. buchanani to be common while N. volucellus was not taken. At station E-5 upstream from E-4, however, N. volucellus was taken but N. buchanani was not found.

In the upper Neosho basin, Cross (1954a:310) took N. volucellus but not N. buchanani. Other collections have shown N. buchanani to be abundant in the lower Neosho River in Kansas. Moore and Paden (1950:85) observe that N. buchanani was found only near the mouth of the Illinois River in Oklahoma and was sharply segregated ecologically from N. volucellus that occupied a niche in the clear main channels in contrast to the more sluggish waters inhabited by N. buchanani.

Notropis camurus (Jordan and Meek): Stations C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, E-1, E-5 (C-131).

Highest concentrations of the bluntface shiner were found close to the mouths of two tributaries of Big Caney River: Rock Creek and Otter Creek. On Rock Creek (Station C-4) this shiner was abundant in a shallow pool below a riffle where water was flowing rapidly. Many large males in breeding condition were taken (June 3). The species formed 20.2 per cent of the fish taken.

On Otter Creek (Station C-13) the species was common in shallow bedrock pools below riffles. It formed 12.1 per cent of the fish taken.

At station C-5, N. camurus was characteristically found in an area of shallow pools and riffles. At station C-10 it was found in clear flowing water over rubble bottom and in small coves over mud bottom. At C-11 (July 26) N. camurus was taken only in one small pool with rapidly flowing water below a riffle. In this pool N. camurus was the dominant fish. At station C-12, on April 2, N. camurus was abundant in the stream, which was then clear and flowing. On August 24, it was not taken from the same pool, which was then turbid and drying.

The frequent occurrence of this species in clear, flowing water seems significant. Cross (1954a:309) notes that the bluntface shiner prefers moderately fast, clear water. Hall (1952:57) found N. camurus only in upland tributaries east of Grand River and not in lowland tributaries west of the river. Moore and Buck (1953:22) took this species in the Chikaskia River, which was at that time a clear, flowing stream. They noted that in Oklahoma it seems to be found only in relatively clear water.

N. camurus did not seem to ascend the smaller tributaries of Big Caney River as did N. rubellus and N. boops even when these tributaries were flowing.

Notropis deliciosus missuriensis (Cope): Stations A-1, A-2, A-3, W-1, W-2, W-3 (C-136).

Sand shiners seemed to be abundant in the Arkansas River, rare in the Walnut River and absent from other streams surveyed. This shiner was most abundant in shallow, flowing water in the Arkansas River; in backwaters, where Gambusia affinis prevailed, N. deliciosus formed only a small percentage of the fish population.

Notropis girardi Hubbs and Ortenburger: Stations A-2 and A-3.

At station A-2 the Arkansas River shiner made up 14.6 per cent of all fish taken. At A-2, it was found only in rapidly-flowing water over clean sand in the main channels. It was absent from the shallow, slowly-flowing water where N. deliciosus missuriensis was abundant. At A-3 N. girardi made up 22 per cent of the total catch, and again preferred the deeper, faster water over clean-swept sand. Failure to find N. girardi at station A-1 is not understood.

Females were gravid in both collections (August 25 and 27). In neither collection were young-of-the-year taken. Moore (1944:210) has suggested that N. girardi requires periods of high water and turbidity to spawn. Additional collecting was done at station A-3 on December 22, 1957. A few adults were taken in flowing water but no young were found.

In this area, N. girardi showed no tendency to ascend tributaries of the Arkansas River. Not far to the west, however, this pattern changes as shown by Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929a:32) who took this fish at seven of ten stations on the Cimarron, Canadian, and Salt Fork of the Arkansas. N. girardi was taken only in the lowermost stations on both Stillwater Creek (Cross, 1950:136) and the Chikaskia River (Moore and Buck, 1953:22). In the next major stream west of the Chikaskia, the Medicine River, N. girardi seems to occur farther upstream than in the Chikaskia. (Collection C-5-51 by Dr. A. B. Leonard and Dr. Frank B. Cross on Elm Creek near Medicine Lodge on July 20, 1951.)

Notropis lutrensis (Baird and Girard): Stations A-1, A-2, W-1, W-2, W-3, W-4, G-1, G-2, G-4, G-5, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, G-12, G-13, G-14, G-15, G-16, B-1, B-2, B-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-14, M-1, E-1, E-2, E-4, E-7 (E&F, C-131, C-133, C-136).

The red shiner was taken in every stream surveyed. The relative abundance seemed to be greatest in two types of habitat which were separated geographically. The first habitat was in large rivers such as the Arkansas and Walnut. In the Arkansas River the red shiner consistently made up 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the catch. On the Walnut River percentages ranged from 10 per cent (station W-3) to 45 per cent (station W-2).

The second habitat in which numbers of N. lutrensis reached high proportions was in the upper parts of the most intermittent tributaries. At the uppermost station in Silver Creek this species formed 30 per cent of the fish taken. In Crab Creek the following percentages were taken in six collections from mouth to source: 20.6%, 26.1%, 25%, 85%, 14.6%, and 1%. In the mainstream of Grouse Creek the highest percentage taken was 19.27 near the mouth at station G-1. In middle sections of Grouse Creek this species was either absent or made up less than 2 per cent of the fish taken.

At no station on Big Caney River was the red shiner abundant. The smallest relative numbers were found at upstream stations, in contrast to collections made on tributaries of Grouse Creek. This distributional pattern possibly may be explained by the severe conditions under which fish have been forced to live in the upper tributaries of Grouse Creek. Water was more turbid, and pools were smaller than in Big Caney. These factors possibly decimate numbers of the less hardy species permitting expansion by more adaptable species, among which seems to be N. lutrensis. In the upper tributaries of Big Caney River conditions have not been so severe due to greater flow from springs and less cultivation of the watershed in most places. Under such conditions N. lutrensis seems to remain a minor faunal constituent.

Notropis percobromus (Cope): Stations A-1, A-2, W-1, W-2, W-3, G-1.

At station W-1 the plains shiner constituted 20 per cent of the fish taken. The river was flowing rapidly with large volume at the time of this collection, and all specimens were taken near the bank in comparatively quiet water over gravel bottom. At station W-3, below Tunnel Mill Dam at Winfield, N. percobromus comprised 18.7 per cent of the fish taken, second only to Lepomis humilis in relative abundance. Immediately below the west end of the dam, plains shiners were so concentrated that fifty or more were taken in one haul of a four-foot nylon net. The amount of water overflowing the dam at this point was slight. Water was shallow (8-12 inches) and the bottom consisted of the pitted apron or of fine gravel. At the east end of the dam where water was deeper (1-3 feet) and the flow over the dam greater, large numbers of Lepomis humilis were taken while N. percobromus was rare.

In the Arkansas River smaller relative numbers of this shiner were obtained. At station A-2, it formed 4.68 per cent of the total. At this station N. percobromus was taken with N. lutrensis in water about 18 inches deep next to a bank where the current was sluggish and tangled roots and detritus offered some shelter.

At station G-1 on Grouse Creek the plains shiner made up 7.68 per cent of the fish taken. The habitat consisted of intermittent pools with rubble bottoms at this station, which was four miles upstream from the mouth of the creek. The plains shiner seems rarely to ascend the upland streams of the area.

Notropis rubellus (Agassiz): Stations C-3, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-14 (J&J).

No fish in these collections showed a more persistent preference than Notropis rubellus for clear, cool streams. All collections of the rosyface shiner were in the Big Caney River system, but at only four stations in this system was it common. At station C-11 the highest relative numbers (10.6 per cent) were obtained. This site possessed the most limpid water of any station on the mainstream of Big Caney. Aquatic plants (Myriophyllum heterophyllum and Potamogeton nodosus) were common. Other fishes that flourished at this station were N. boops, N. camurus, Campostoma anomalum, and Etheostoma spectabile. The water temperature was 86° at surface and 80° at bottom whereas air temperature was 97°.

N. rubellus was common at all stations in Otter Creek, the clear, upland character of which has been discussed. In May and June only adults were found. On September 1, examination of several pools in upper Otter Creek revealed numerous young-of-the-year in small spring-fed pools.

Literature is scarce concerning this shiner in Kansas. Cross (1954a:308) stated that it was abundant in the South Fork of the Cottonwood River and was one of those fishes primarily associated with the Ozarkian fauna, rather than with the fauna of the plains. Elliott (1947) found N. rubellus in Spring Creek, a tributary of Fall River which seems similar to Otter Creek in physical features. Between the Fall River and Big Caney River systems is the Elk River, from which there is no record of the rosyface shiner. Perhaps its absence is related to the intermittent condition of this stream at present. The Elk River is poor in spring-fed tributaries, which seem to be favorite environs of the rosyface shiner.

N. rubellus was taken by Minna Jewell and Frank Jobes in Silver Creek on June 30, 1925 (UMMZ 67818). The shiner was not found in any stream west of the Big Caney system in my collections.

In Oklahoma, Hall (1952:57) found N. rubellus in upland tributaries on the east side of Grand River and not in the lowland tributaries on the west side. Martin and Campbell (1953:51) characterize N. rubellus as preferring riffle channels in moderate to fast current in the Black River, Missouri. It is the only species so characterized by them which was taken in my collections. Moore and Paden (1950:84) state "Notropis rubellus is one of the most abundant fishes of the Illinois River, being found in all habitats but showing a distinct preference for fast water...."

Notropis topeka (Gilbert): Two specimens (formerly Indiana University 4605) of the Topeka shiner labeled "Winfield, Kansas" are now at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Collector and other data are not given. Evermann and Fordice (1886:185) noted that two specimens of N. topeka were taken from Sand Creek near Newton in Harvey County, but do not list it from Cowley County near Winfield. They deposited their fish in the museum of Indiana University.

Notropis umbratilis (Girard): Stations G-1, G-3, G-4, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-12, G-14, B-2, B-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-14, C-15, C-16, E-1, E-2, E-4, E-5, M-1, M-2 (J&J, C-131, C-132).

The redfin shiner flourished in all the streams surveyed except the Arkansas and Walnut Rivers. N. umbratilis has been found in upland tributaries of the Walnut River, some of which originate in terrain similar to that in which Elk River, Big Caney River, and Grouse Creek originate. (Collection C-26-51 by Cross on Durechon Creek, October 7, 1951.) This suggests downstream reduction in relative numbers of this species, a tendency which also seemed to exist on both Big Caney River and Grouse Creek. N. umbratilis was the most abundant species in Big Caney River except at the lowermost stations where it was surpassed in relative abundance by N. lutrensis and Gambusia affinis.

N. umbratilis was a pool-dweller, becoming more concentrated in the deeper pools as summer advanced. In May and early June, large concentrations of adult N. umbratilis were common in the shallow ends of pools together with N. rubellus, N. boops, Pimephales notatus, and Pimephales tenellus. By July and August, only young of the year were taken in shallow water, and adults were scarcely in evidence.

Notropis volucellus (Cope): Stations G-5, G-8, C-3, C-5, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10, M-1, E-4, E-5.

The mimic shiner was a minor element in the fauna, 2.02 per cent at station C-5 being the largest percentage taken. In the Big Caney River system N. volucellus was taken only in the main stream. In the Grouse Creek drainage it was found at two stations in the upper part of the watershed, where water is clearer, gradient greater, and pools well-shaded and cool.

In the Elk River the mimic shiner was taken only in the upper part of the main stream. The dominant shiner in situations where N. volucellus was taken was, in all cases, N. umbratilis. Elliott (1947) found N. volucellus in Spring Creek, a tributary of Fall River. Farther north in the Flint Hills region, N. volucellus was reported by Cross (1954a:310).

Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchell): Station W-5.

This isolated record for the golden shiner consisted of nine specimens collected on June 6 in Timber Creek, a tributary of the Walnut River. Most of the creek was dry. N. crysoleucas was taken in one pool with dimensions of 8 feet by 4 feet with an average depth of 4 inches. This creek is sluggish and silt-laden, even under conditions of favorable precipitation. Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b:89) observed that the golden shiner prefers sluggish water. Hall (1952:58) took the golden shiner only in the lowland tributaries west of Grand River and not east of the river in upland tributaries.

Phenacobius mirabilis Girard: Stations W-3, C-3.

In no case was the suckermouth minnow common; it never comprised more than 1 per cent of the fish population.

Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque): Stations W-4, G-5, G-7, G-9, G-12, G-13, B-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-14, C-15, C-16, C-17, C-18, M-1, M-2, E-1, E-2, E-4, E-5, E-7 (J&J, C-131, C-132, C-133).

This was much the most abundant of the four species of Pimephales in this area. It was taken at 33 stations as compared with 10 for P. tenellus, 8 for P. promelas, and 3 for P. vigilax.

The bluntnose minnow was taken almost everywhere except in the main stream of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers and in lower Grouse Creek. P. notatus seemed to prefer clearer streams of the Flint Hills part of my area. There was a marked increase in percentages taken in the upland tributaries of both Caney River and Grouse Creek. In the Elk River, too, higher concentrations were found upstream.

The highest relative numbers of bluntnose minnows were taken at station G-12 on Crab Creek, station C-12 on Cedar Creek and station C-16 on Spring Creek. At G-12, this minnow was abundant in the deeper isolated pools. Males in breeding condition were taken on June 9. In Cedar Creek the population of bluntnose minnows was observed periodically in one pool in which they were dominant. This pool was 100 feet by 50 feet, shallow, and with bedrock bottom. At its upper end, however, there was a small area of heavily-shaded deeper water. Throughout the spring bluntnose minnows were found in large schools in the shallow area. As the summer progressed they were no longer there, but seining revealed their presence in the deeper, upper end.

At station C-16 on Spring Creek on July 9 male P. notatus were taken in extreme breeding condition, being light brick-red in color and with large tubercles.

Pimephales tenellus (Girard): Stations G-1, C-2, C-3, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, M-1, E-2, E-4 (C-131 C-133).

The mountain minnow was never taken far from the mainstream of Big Caney, Middle Caney, or Elk River. In this respect it differed from P. notatus, which reached large concentrations in the small upland tributaries. On the other hand, P. tenellus was not so abundant as P. vigilax in the silty larger streams. In no collection was the mountain minnow common. The highest percentages were 2.4 per cent (Station C-5), and 2.1 per cent (Station C-7) on Big Caney River. These stations consisted of clear, flowing water over rubble bottoms. Males at C-7 (June 16) were in breeding condition.

Moore and Buck (1953:23) reported finding this species among rocks in very fast water rather than in the quiet backwaters frequented by P. vigilax. Other records of the mountain minnow from the Flint Hills indicate that it seeks areas of maximum gradient and flow; in this distributional respect it is like Notropis camurus. The two species are recorded together from other streams in this region such as the Chikaskia (Moore and Buck, 1953:23), Cottonwood (Cross, 1954a:310), and Spring Creek, tributary of Fall River (Elliott, 1947). It is conceivable that a preference for flowing water might explain its restriction to the medium-sized, less intermittent streams in this area. The only tributary which the species seemed to ascend to any extent was Otter Creek, which is seldom intermittent downstream.

Pimephales vigilax perspicuus (Girard): Stations A-3, C-1, C-4.

The parrot minnow was found only in downstream habitats. Collection C-4 (June 3) on Rock Creek was made about ½ mile from the mouth of this tributary of Big Caney and the creek here had almost the same character as the river proper. The presence of other channel fishes such as Ictiobus bubalus indicates the downstream nature of the creek. Some males of P. vigilax in breeding condition were taken in this collection.

At C-1, only one specimen was found in a turbid, isolated pool with bedrock bottom. At A-1 only one parrot minnow was taken; it was in deep, fairly quiet water near the bank.

Other collections outside the three-county area revealed the following: In the Neosho River, several parrot minnows were found in quiet backwaters and in shallow pools. In the Verdigris River three were taken directly under water spilling over the dam at this station, while others were found, together with P. promelas, in the mouth of a small creek that provided a backwater habitat with mud bottom.

Cross and Moore (1952:405) found this species only at stations in the lower portion of the Poteau River. Farther west the minnow may ascend the smaller sandy streams to greater distances. Moore and Buck (1953:23) took parrot minnows at six of 15 stations on the Chikaskia River and found the species as far upstream as Drury, Kansas. Elliott (1947), in comparing the South Ninnescah and Spring Creek fish faunas, found only P. vigilax and P. promelas on the sandy, "flatter" Ninnescah and only P. notatus and P. tenellus on Spring Creek, an upland, Flint Hills stream in Greenwood County.

Pimephales promelas Rafinesque: Stations A-2, A-3, W-3, W-4, G-9, B-1, M-1, E-4 (E&F, C-136).

Occurrences of the fathead minnow were scattered, but included all streams sampled except Big Caney.

Three of the collections were in small intermittent streams where conditions were generally unfavorable for fishes and in one instance extremely foul. Two of these stations had turbid water and all suffered from siltation.

In Middle Caney Creek the species was rare but in the Elk River (June 28) more than 100 specimens, predominantly young, were taken. This station consisted of a large isolated pool with a variety of bottom types. Water was turbid and the surface temperature was high (93° F.). In different parts of the pool the following numbers of specimens were taken in single seine-hauls: 15 over shallow bedrock; 35 over gravel (1½ feet deep); 50 over mud bottom (1 foot deep).

P. promelas was found also in the large, flowing rivers: Arkansas, Walnut, Verdigris, and Neosho. The species was scarce in the Arkansas River, and was found principally in muddy coves. In the Walnut (W-3), this minnow comprised 7.65 per cent of the fish taken and was common in quiet pools.

Campostoma anomalum Rafinesque: Stations W-4, G-4, C-1, C-3, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-14, C-15, C-16, C-17, C-18, B-3 (E&F, C-131, C-136).

Although the stoneroller was found in most streams surveyed, it was taken most often in the Big Caney system, where it occurred at 16 of the 18 stations. In contrast, it was represented at only one of 17 stations on Grouse Creek. High percentages were found in three creeks—Cedar, Otter, and Spring. As noted above, these streams are normally clear, swift and have steep gradients and many rubble and gravel riffles. On these riffles young stonerollers abounded. Station C-16 on Spring Creek typifies the habitat in which this species was most abundant. The stream has an average width of 10 feet and depth of a few inches. The volume of flow was less than 1 cubic foot per second but turbulence was great. Water was clear and the bottom was gravel and rubble. Following rains in June, stonerollers quickly occupied parts of Spring Creek (upstream from C-16) that had been dry throughout the previous winter.

On April 2 many C. anomalum and Etheostoma spectabile were taken in shallow pools and riffles in an extensive bedrock-riffle area on Cedar Creek near station C-12. Most of the females were gravid and the males were in breeding condition. On June 6 these pools were revisited. Flow had ceased and the pools were drying up. Young-of-the-year of the two species were abundant, but only a few mature stonerollers were taken. On August 24, prolonged drought had drastically altered the stream and all areas from which stonerollers and darters had been taken were dry. Seining of other pools which were almost dry revealed no stonerollers.

Collections on May 31, June 15, and June 16 in Otter Creek revealed large numbers of stonerollers. They were found in riffle areas, in aquatic vegetation, and especially in detritus alongside banks. Most of the specimens were young-of-the-year.

Anguilla bostoniensis (Le Sueur): An American eel was caught by me in Grouse Creek in 1949.

Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard): Stations A-1, A-2, A-3, W-1, W-2, W-3, W-4, W-5, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-9, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-6, C-15, E-1.

Mosquitofish occurred widely but in varied abundance. Huge populations were in the shallow sandy backwaters and cut-off pools of the Arkansas River. In the shallow pools of several intermittent streams such as station G-8 on Silver Creek this fish also flourished.

G. affinis was taken at every station in the Arkansas, Walnut and Grouse systems except those stations on two upland tributaries of Grouse Creek (Crab Creek and Grand Summit Creek). The mosquitofish was not observed in the clear upland tributaries of Big Caney, nor on upper Big Caney River itself in May, June, and July. On September 3, however, Gambusia were taken at station C-15 on Otter Creek and others were seen at station C-14 on the same date.

Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929b:99) and Cross and Moore (1952:407) observed that G. affinis usually was absent from small upland tributaries, even though it was abundant in lower parts of the same river systems.

Fundulus kansae (Garman): Stations A-2, A-3, Evermann and Fordice as Fundulus zebrinus.

At station A-2, seven plains killifish were taken together with a great many Notropis deliciosus and Gambusia affinis in a shallow, algae-covered channel with slight flow and sand bottom. At station A-3 many young killifish were taken in small shallow pools on December 22. Fundulus kansae has been found in the lower part of the Walnut River Basin, especially where petroleum pollution was evident. Eastward from the Walnut River plains killifish have not been taken.

Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque): Stations B-1, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-11, G-14, C-1, M-1, E-1, Evermann and Fordice as Zygonectes notatus.

The black-banded topminnow was not taken in the Arkansas River but was common in the Walnut and Grouse systems. It was common also in Middle Caney, but in Big Caney and Elk River it was taken only at the lowermost stations.

This species did not seem to ascend far into smaller tributaries of Grouse Creek. In Crab Creek it was taken at the lower two of six stations and in Grand Summit Creek at the lower of two stations.

The highest relative numbers were taken at stations G-3 (17.5 per cent), G-4 (24 per cent), G-10 (25.75 per cent) and G-11 (41.52 per cent), on Crab Creek and Grouse Creek. Both upstream and downstream from these stations, which were within five miles of each other, the relative abundance dropped off sharply. The bottoms at these stations were mostly rubble and mud, and water was turbid at three of the stations. At G-10 (June 24) and G-11 (July 16) young-of-the-year were abundant.

Ictalurus melas (Girard): Stations W-2, W-3, W-4, W-5, B-1, B-2, B-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, G-8, G-9, G-11, G-12, G-13, G-14, G-17, C-1, C-9, C-11, C-12, C-14, C-15, C-17, C-18, E-1, E-2, E-4, E-5, E-6, N-1, Evermann and Fordice as Ameiurus melas (C-133).

The black bullhead was taken at slightly more than half of the stations, and probably was present at others. Larger numbers were taken in Grouse Creek than in any other stream system. In many small, shallow pools in the Grouse Creek system young black bullheads shared dominance with Gambusia affinis in the late summer. I. melas was also abundant in isolated pools at the extreme upper ends of Crab Creek, Beaver Creek and Grand Summit Creek. I. melas was most common in areas with silty bottoms. The species seemed scarce in the main stream of Big Caney River but was common in some of its tributaries.

Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque): Stations A-3, G-1, C-5.

Flathead catfish were taken by angling at stations A-3 and C-5. At station G-1 (September 5) a flathead catfish five inches long was taken in the four-foot nylon net.

Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque): Stations A-3, W-2, W-3, G-2, C-5, E-4.

Channel catfish from stations W-3, A-3, and C-5 were taken on hook and line. At station G-2 (August 29) twenty young-of-the-year were seined from the shallow narrow end of a large pool. All collections of both I. punctatus and P. olivaris were in the larger streams surveyed.

Ictalurus natalis (LeSueur): Stations G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-8, G-11, C-12, C-14, C-15.

The yellow bullhead was taken at only 9 stations, compared with 33 stations for the black bullhead. I. natalis was represented in 7 of 17 stations in the Grouse Creek system but in only 3 of 18 stations in the Big Caney system. Of the seven records from Grouse Creek four were from the main stream. At every station where yellow bullheads were taken, black bullheads were found also and were abundant, usually several times more abundant than I. natalis.

At G-11 on Crab Creek (July 16), I. natalis made up 3.8 per cent of the fish taken. All were young-of-the-year, existing in a tiny, gravelly pool containing not more than five gallons of water, and were the only fish present. Young yellow bullheads were also found in small pools with gravel bottoms at station G-4 on September 7.

Labidesthes sicculus (Cope): Stations G-1, G-2, G-3, G-7, G-10, B-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-12, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-7, M-1 (E&F, C-131).

The brook silversides was taken, sometimes abundantly, in all stream systems except the Walnut and Arkansas. At station G-7 on July 8, 41.8 per cent of the fish taken were of this species. L. sicculus was most abundant in large pools where the bottom was predominantly bedrock and gravel. The highest concentrations were in the mainstreams of Big Caney, Grouse, and Elk Rivers. Brook silversides were taken rarely in the smaller tributaries of these streams.

Percina phoxocephala (Nelson): Stations C-2, C-3, C-5, G-1 (C-133).

Slenderhead darters were scarce, and were found only over gravel bottoms. Specimens were taken from flowing and quiet water, and from both shallow and deep water.

Larger numbers of P. phoxocephala were taken by the writer in other collections made during 1956 on the Neosho and Verdigris Rivers over bottoms of rubble or gravel. Restriction of this darter to the larger streams follows a pattern observed by Cross (1954a:313) who noted it was absent from smaller riffles in minor tributaries. Elliott (1947), however, took one specimen of P. phoxocephala in Spring Creek, a tributary of Fall River.

Percina caprodes carbonaria (Baird and Girard): Stations G-3, G-4, G-7, G-12, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-9, C-12, C-13, C-14 (J&J, C-131, C-133).

The logperch was generally distributed in the Caney, Elk, and Grouse systems. This species usually comprised less than 1 per cent of the fish taken; however, at station G-12 it formed 3.76 per cent of the total.

In many instances the logperch was taken over submerged gravel bars, often along the edges of the larger pools. At 8 of 13 stations where the logperch was taken, the golden redhorse was also found. At every station where logperch were found, Notropis umbratilis was taken and Pimephales notatus also occurred at all but three of these stations.

Percina copelandi (Jordan): Stations C-4, C-5, C-6, C-8, G-1 (C-131, C-133, J&J).

Channel darters were collected over bottoms of rubble or gravel, both in flowing streams and in isolated pools. Although P. copelandi was found only in Big Caney River and at the lowermost station on Grouse Creek (G-1) in this survey, this species has been taken previously from Elk River (K. U. 3463 and K. U. 3197) and from Silver Creek. Notropis camurus occurred everywhere that H. copelandi was found. In several instances the two species were taken in the same seine-haul.

Etheostoma spectabile pulchellum (Girard): Stations W-4, G-1, G-4, G-5, C-6, C-9, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-14, C-15, C-16, C-17, C-18, E-1, E-5. Evermann and Fordice as Etheostoma coeruleum (C-131, C-132).

The habitat preferences of the orangethroat darter seemed similar to those of Campostoma anomalum. There were sixteen stations at which both species were taken, seven where only E. spectabile pulchellum was taken and six where only C. anomalum was taken. The largest relative numbers of both species were found in the same small, clear upland tributaries of Big Caney River. On May 31, collections from riffles at station C-15 (upper Otter Creek) consisted almost entirely of these two species. On September 1 at this station the stream was intermittent, but even the tiniest pools abounded with young darters and stonerollers.

Gravid females and males in breeding condition were taken in riffles in Cedar Creek on April 2. During June numerous young and adult orangethroat darters were taken in Cedar Creek, in partly decayed leaves which lined the banks. On June 15 in Otter Creek young darters were abundant in streamside detritus and in clear, shallow, rubble riffles. At station C-11 a few darters were taken on rubble riffles; however, large numbers were found inhabiting thick mats of Potamogeton foliosus Raf., which grew in shallow water. Many darters (Etheostoma spectabile pulchellum and Percina phoxocephala) were taken in September along gravelly banks at stations C-2 and C-3 by disturbing small rocks and leaf-litter along the shores. Young orangethroat darters seemed to seek out sheltered areas and in some cases were found in sluggish, even foul, water (Stations W-4, B-1 and G-12). Moore and Buck (1953:26) note that the orangethroat darter is able to thrive in Oklahoma in rather sluggish and even intermittent waters which reach quite high summer temperatures.

Unlike other darters taken in this survey, the orangethroat darter was common to abundant at several stations and was found at a great many more stations than any other darter. The comparatively great tolerance of this species to varying habitats, suggested by this survey, is also reflected by its widespread distribution in Kansas.

Micropterus salmoides salmoides (Lacepede): Stations B-1, G-4, G-5, G-7, G-12, C-1, C-3, E-1, E-2, E-3.

Most of the largemouth bass taken were young-of-the-year. In Big Caney River this species seemed rare, being found at only two downstream stations compared with eight stations at which M. punctulatus was taken.

Many ponds in the Flint Hills have been stocked with largemouth bass. At present largemouth bass are frequently caught by hook and line in Crab Creek (Station G-12); however, Mr. A. C. Metcalf, who has fished this stream for approximately 45 years, states that he took no bass in the creek prior to the building and stocking of large ponds on nearby ranches.

Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque): Stations C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-10, C-14, C-15, E-2, E-5 (C-133).

The spotted bass was taken only in tributaries of the Verdigris River, where it seemed more numerous than the preceding species. It has been reported from other Verdigris tributaries such as Fall River (Elliott, 1947) and is common eastward from the Verdigris Basin. A spotted bass (K. U. 3467) was taken by Cross on the Little Walnut River in Butler County on April 5, 1955. This seems to be the only record of this species from the Walnut River Basin at the present time.

Pomoxis annularis (Rafinesque): Stations W-3, W-5, G-1, G-2, G-5, G-10, G-11, G-12, C-1, C-2, C-4, C-5, C-6, M-1, E-1, E-2, E-4, E-5 (C-136).

White crappie were found in almost all habitats and were taken in all rivers except the Arkansas. The relative abundance of this species was greater at downstream than at upstream stations on Grouse Creek, Big Caney, and Elk River. Schools of young crappie were frequently found and the factor of chance in taking or failing to take a school of crappie prevented confident appraisal of abundance. White crappie usually sought quiet waters. Often they were found in backwaters and many times schools were taken over bottoms where mud and detritus had been deposited. It was not uncommon to take Pomoxis annularis and Ictalurus melas in the same seine-haul in such areas.

Pomoxis nigromaculatus (LeSueur): Station C-1.

Black crappie were taken in Otter Creek on May 29 and September 3. Several ponds in eastern Cowley County are stocked with black crappie, but none was taken from streams into which these ponds drain.

Lepomis cyanellus (Rafinesque): Stations W-3, W-4, W-5, B-1, B-2, B-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-12, G-13, G-14, G-15, G-16, G-17, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-14, C-16, C-17, C-18, E-1, E-4, E-5, E-6, E-7, M-2 (C-131, C-132, C-133, C-136, E&F).

The green sunfish was taken at 45 of 60 stations, which is the greatest number recorded for one species. The only stream from which it was not obtained was the Arkansas River. Green sunfish constituted a minor but consistent part of the fauna in Big Caney River except for some intermittent pools on small tributaries, where it was high in relative abundance. It usually comprised approximately 4 per cent of the fish taken at stations on Grouse Creek. In some intermittent tributaries of Grouse Creek and Elk River percentages also were high.

Funk and Campbell (1953:74) observed that L. cyanellus held a definite but minor place in all collections made on the Black River in Missouri. This pattern was also observed by the writer in collections made on the Neosho and Spring Rivers in southeastern Kansas. This seems to indicate that the Big Caney River populations (exclusive of the upstream stations in intermittent streams) follow a pattern commonly found in southeastern Kansas and probably in the Ozark region.

Lepomis humilis (Girard): Stations A-3, W-2, W-3, W-4, W-5, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, G-12, G-14, G-15, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-16, C-17, B-2, B-3, E-1, E-2, E-4, E-5, E-6, E-7, M-1. (C-131, C-132, C-133, C-136, J&J, E&F.)

The orangespotted sunfish was found in every stream surveyed, although only one specimen was taken from the Arkansas River.

The largest relative number of this species (44.6) was taken at station G-1. Percentages at other stations on Grouse Creek and its tributaries progressively declined in an upstream direction.

In Big Caney River representation of L. humilis in collections varied from 1.56 per cent at station C-1 to 23.47 per cent at station C-7. This sunfish was usually the dominant species in collections made from the Elk River, where the relative abundance ranged from 10 to 30 per cent.

The orangespotted sunfish is widespread in Kansas and seems to be a diagnostic constituent of the Plains Fauna. Moore and Buck (1953:26) found it "very common" in the Chikaskia River in Kansas and Oklahoma. Cross (1950:140) noted that in Stillwater Creek it seemed to be the most tolerant and consequently the most abundant of the stream's cent rarchids. Moore and Paden (1950:91) note that L. humilis is most common in muddy waters and found in overflow pools, backwaters, and oxbow lakes. This species is frequently found in farm ponds in the area surveyed, which further suggests a wide range of habitat tolerance.

Lepomis megalotis breviceps (Baird and Girard): Stations W-3, W-4, W-5, B-1, B-2, G-1, G-4, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, G-12, G-13 (all Big Caney River stations except C-18), E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6, M-1, M-2 (C-131, C-132, C-133, J&J, E&F).

In Big Caney River the longear sunfish shared dominance with the redfin shiner (Notropis umbratilis) at almost every station. The average of its relative abundance at all stations in the Big Caney system was 16.5 per cent. It was also abundant at several stations on Grouse Creek and made up 43.25 per cent of all fish taken at station G-4.

Cross (1950:140) observed that L. megalotis breviceps increased in Stillwater Creek probably as a result of clearer water and stabilized water level.

In collections made west of the area treated here (Moore and Buck, 1953:26; Elliott, 1947) the longear sunfish is less abundant than in Big Caney River and Grouse Creek.

Lepomis macrochirus (Rafinesque): Stations W-3, G-3, G-4, G-5, C-3, C-5, E-1, E-2 (C-131, C-132, C-133).

The bluegill was, in all cases, a minor constituent in the fish fauna. No clear pattern of habitat preference can be deduced. In the Verdigris River at Independence (collection AM-53, August 22, 1956) bluegills were common in quiet pools and coves below a low-water dam. Moore and Paden (1950:91) note that L. macrochirus prefers quiet waters and Hubbs and Lagler (1947:94) state that it is "generally restricted to the quieter pools."

The bluegill is widely-stocked in impoundments of the area treated here.

Aplodinotus grunniens (Rafinesque): Stations C-4, E-2.

The dearth of stations from which the freshwater drum is reported may indicate difficulty in taking this species with seines, rather than scarcity. Both collections were at downstream stations. At station C-4 three half-grown drum were taken. Fishermen take "drum" at least as far upstream as station C-5 on Big Caney River. In the Elk River one specimen was taken in a 20-foot seine below a dam at Elk Falls.

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