At the lower Neosho station, this fish preferred slow eddy-current over silt bottom, along the downstream portion of a gravel bar. The parrot minnow was taken less abundantly in the latter part of the summer, 1959, than in early summer, but the decline was less than occurred in the mountain minnow.
Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque)
Blunt-nosed Minnow
The blunt-nosed minnow was common, and increased in abundance in both rivers from 1957 to 1959. The largest numbers were found at the upper Neosho station in 1959, and a large population also was present at the lower Neosho station in 1959.
Pools having rubble bottom, bedrock, and small areas of mud were preferred at the upper Neosho station. At the lower Neosho station the fish was most common in quiet water at the lower end of a gravel bar. The parrot minnow also was common in this general area; nevertheless, these two species were seldom numerous in the same seine-haul, indicating segregation of the two. The blunt-nosed minnow was taken frequently in moderate current over clean gravel bottom, especially in late summer, 1959, when P. notatus increased in abundance as the mountain minnow decreased.
Pimephales promelas Rafinesque
Fat-headed Minnow
The fat-headed minnow was taken at all stations except at the lower one on the Marais des Cygnes, and was most abundant at the upper Neosho station. Intensive seining at the lower Neosho station indicated that this species preferred quiet water and firm mud bottom.
In the Neosho River in 1957 to 1959, habitats of the species of Pimephales seemed to be as follows: Pimephales tenellus (mountain minnow) occurred primarily in moderately flowing gravel riffles in the downstream portions of the river. Pimephales vigilax (parrot minnow) was mostly in the quiet areas having mud bottom at the downstream end of gravel bars, and less commonly on adjacent riffles, at the lower station. Pimephales notatus (blunt-nosed minnow) had a wider range of habitats, occurring in quiet areas and moderate currents both upstream and downstream. Pimephales promelas (fat-headed minnow) occurred throughout both rivers but was most abundant in the quiet water at the uppermost stations.
Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque)
Stoneroller
The stoneroller was most abundant at the upper Neosho station and was not taken at the lower Marais des Cygnes station. This fish increased in abundance from 1957 to 1959, but was never common at the middle Marais des Cygnes or the middle and lower Neosho stations.
The stoneroller prefers fast, relatively clear water over rubble or gravel-bottom.