The following is a list of specimens in the Reinhardt College Vertebrate Zoology Teaching Collection representing fishes you are likely to encounter in North Georgia. Taxa that are not specifically addressed in your lecture notes are followed w/ some key identifying characteristics and basic information on habitat, distribution and biology. The organization of this list generally follows the scheme listed below:

“Class” (or subphylum in some cases) – common name for group

Order (typically ends in –iformes) – common name for group (where appropriate)

Family (typically ends in –idae) – common name for group

Genus species (this is the scientific name of a species, some taxa will be designated as Genus sp., in that case, species of the given genus or species complex are difficult to identify and you will only be responsible for knowing genus)

Cephalaspidomorhphi (or Petromyzontoidea) - lampreys

Petromyzontiformes

Petromyzontidae

Ichthyomyzon gagei – dorsal fin w/o deep notch (ie. continuous as single fin), dark pigment on caudal peduncle, teeth degenerate. Common (mostly from fall to spring) in riffles of small to medium streams of Gulf Coast drainages. Nonparasitic (ie. do not eat as adults). Spawn in groups of 5-20 individuals.

Ichthyomyzon sp. (ammocoete) – larval form, eyes and teeth lacking. Bury in softer substrate of pools and runs and filter feed.

Lampetra aepyptera – dorsal fin w/ deep notch (ie. two dorsal fins), often w/ dark “stripe” along side. Often common during spring and summer in riffles of small streams from Gulf Coast to Upper Ohio and Chesapeake drainages. Nonparasitic.

Actinopterygii – ray-finned fishes

Acipenseriformes

Acipenseridae - sturgeon

Acipenser oxyrhynchus – rows of large ganoid scales as scutes, row of barbells anterior to inferior mouth. Anadromous, once common but now rare in rivers of Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Adults reach 4m in length and live >60 years.

Semionotiformes (aka. Lepisosteiformes)

Lepisosteidae - gars

Lepisosteus osseus – length of snout 12x width, many sharp teeth, body covered w/ large ganoid scales. Common to uncommon in backwaters of medium to large streams and swamps throughout Southeast. Adults up to 1.5m.

Amiiformes

Amiidae - bowfin

Amia calva – long dorsal fin, gular plate, large teeth. Uncommon to common in lowland swamps and oxbows of eastern North America. Adults up to 1m in length.

Anguilliformes - eels

Anguillidae – freshwater eels

Anguilla rostrata – (skeleton), anadromous, sporadic throughout eastern North America, but most common in lowland Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast streams, spawn in Sargasso Sea of Atlantic Ocean. Unmistakable for any other FW species.

Clupeiformes

Clupeidae – herrings & shad

Dorosoma cepedianum – deep body, large dark spot posterior to opercle, “thread” extending from last dorsal ray, blunt snout w/ subterminal mouth. Abundant in large rivers, lakes and reservoirs of eastern North America.

Cypriniformes – minnows, suckers & loaches

Cyprinidae - minnows

Campostoma sp. – cartilaginous ridge on lower jaw used for scraping algae from rocks. omnivorous, spawn in large shoals in early spring. Abundant in small to medium streams of eastern North America.

Cyprinella callistia – diamond-shaped scales (true of all Cyprinella), darkly outlined scales, dark caudal spot, dark preorbital bar, subterminal mouth, nuptial males w/ brilliant powder blue fins and large tubercles. Abundant in small to medium streams of Mobile Basin, deposit eggs in small crevices (typical of all Cyprinella).

Cyprinella trichroistia – purple tint to body, scales orange, dark caudal spot, terminal mouth, conspicuous delicate tubercles in nuptial males. Abundant in small streams of Mobile Basin (except for Tallapoosa R.)

Cyprinella venusta – faint blue tint to body, fins yellowish to clear, sharply defined caudal spot, slightly subterminal mouth, relatively small eye. Abundant in small to medium streams of Gulf Coast.

Luxilus chrysocephalus – relatively deep body & large eye, posterior scales on dorsum darkly outlined forming “V” shaped lines when viewed from above, large tubercles and pink pigment in nuptial males. Abundant in small to medium streams of eastern North America.

Macrhybopsis aestivalis – inferior mouth, conspicuous barbells, dark melanophores on body. Extirpated from most of range, but locally common in flowing runs of the most pristine large rivers of eastern North America.

Nocomis sp. – large subterminal mouth, large scales, nuptial males w/ swollen head and few large tubercles. Males carry rocks to construct spawning mound. Common in small to medium streams of eastern North America.

Notemigonus crysoleucas – deep compressed body, decurved lateral line, anal keel. Common in lowland habitats and degraded streams. Popular baitfish.

Notropis chrosomus – slightly subterminal mouth, moderate-size eye, red pigment in fins, nuptial specimens w/ spectacular red and iridescent blue pigment. Common to uncommon in small streams of eastern Mobile Basin.

Notropis stilbius – terminal mouth, sharp snout, large eye, laterally silver (dark stripe in preservative), dark caudal spot. Common in medium streams of Mobile Basin.

Notropis xaenocephalus – subterminal mouth, blunt snout, dark dorsal and lateral pigment, dark caudal spot, Common in small streams of eastern Mobile Basin. Feeds primarily on terrestrial insects.

Phenacobius catostomus – long streamlined body, fleshy inferior mouth, large eyes placed dorsally. Uncommon in medium to large upland streams of Mobile Basin. Found in fastest water of riffles.

Semotilus atromaculatus – small predorsal scales, large terminal mouth w/ small barbell at corner, dark spot at anterior base of dorsal fin, nuptial males w/ large tubercles. Males carry rocks to construct spawning mound. Omnivorous. Abundant in small streams of eastern North America.

Catostomidae - suckers

Catostomus commersoni – papilose lips, small scales anteriorly (>48 LLS). Common in small to medium streams throughout most of North America.

Hypentelium etowanum – boldly patterned, interorbital area flat to slightly convex. Common in riffles and runs of small to medium streams of the Mobile Basin and upper Chattahoochee Rivers. Largely opportunistic feeders (ie. many different food items).

Moxostoma duquesnei – plicate lips, moderate-sized brassy scales, (>43 LLS). Uncommon to common in small to large streams of Mobile and Mississippi basins.

Moxostoma erythrurum - plicate lips, large brassy scales, (<43 LLS). Uncommon to common in small to large streams of Mobile and Mississippi basins and some Atlantic slope drainages.

Moxostoma poecilurum – large brassy scales, dark pigment on ventral 1/3 of caudal fin, complete lateral line. Common in small to medium streams of Gulf Coast.

Siluriformes - catfishes

Ictaluridae – North American freshwater catfishes

Ameiurus melas – caudal fin truncate, dark chin barbells, pectoral spines w/o conspicuous serrae. Omnivorous. Common to uncommon in small to medium streams.

Ictalurus punctatus – skeleton & specimens – deeply forked caudal fin, rounded anal fin, variable dark spots on body, Weberian apparatus conspicuous on skeleton. Largely nocturnal, omnivorous. Common in slow waters of large rivers and lakes of eastern North America. Important as gamefish and cultured food source.

Noturus leptacanthus – body slender, pigment mostly uniform on body, pectoral spines relatively small and lacking prominent serrae. Insectivorous. Uncommon in small to medium streams of Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic tributaries.

Noturus munitus – body moderately robust, conspicuous serrae on pectoral spines, boldly patterned. Insectivorous. Extirpated from most of historical range, but still locally sporadic in Pearl and Mobile basins.

Salmoniformes

Salmonidae – trout, salmon, whitefishes, grayling

Oncorhynchus mykiss – introduced, native to west coast of North America, stocked as sportfish, reproduces in cold water streams (Rainbow Trout, stream chickens)

Cyprinodontiformes

Fundulidae – topminnows & killifishes

Fundulus stellifer – adults to >100 mm SL, blue w/ orange stripes. Sporadic in shallow backwaters in small streams of eastern Mobile Basin. Little is known of biology.

Fundulus olivaceus – large black lateral stripe, conspicuous black spots. Common in shallow backwaters in upland streams from Apalachicola drainage to central Texas. Feed mostly on terrestrial and floating insects.

Poeciliidae - livebearers

Gambusia sp. – large gonopod in males, dark ventrolateral spot. Common in swamps, ditches, ponds and degraded streams of eastern North America (introduced elsewhere). Feed primarily on mosquito larvae (Mosquitofish)

Scorpaeniformes

Cottidae - sculpins

Cottus sp. – large head & mouth, 3 dorsal bands. Common in small upland streams of North America. Carnivorous.

Perciformes

Centrarchidae – sunfishes & black basses

Amboplites ariommus – deep body, continuous dorsal fin, red eye, brown & tan pigment gives “checkerboard” appearance. Common in deeper waters of streams of eastern Gulf Coast and Arkansas usually near dense cover. .

Lepomis auritus – long opercular flap, deep body, continuous dorsal fin, rounded pectoral fin, bright orange breast in adult males. Common in deep pools of streams of Atlantic Coast and eastern Mobile Basin. Feed mostly on aquatic insects.

Lepomis cyanellus – large mouth (maxillae extending to eye), dark spot in posterior of dorsal fin, aqua vermiculations near mouth, mostly green body. Common throughout Mississippi R., Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico drainages in nearly all habitats (especially degraded habitats). Feed upon insects as juveniles, but fish and crayfish as adults.

Lepomis macrochirus – small mouth, dark spot on posterior of dorsal fin, dark opercular flap, long pointed pectoral fin. Abundant in streams, ponds and lakes of eastern North America. Feed mostly on aquatic and terrestrial insects.

Micropterus coosae – dark elongate body w/ blue cast & fine lateral stripes ventrally, red eye, tricolor caudal fin. Common in small to medium streams of eastern Mobile Basin. Feed primarily on insects, but also fishes and crayfish.

Micropterus punctulatus – elongate body w/ dark lateral stripe, tricolor caudal fin, tooth patch on tongue, dark stripes extending from eye & mouth ventrolaterally. Common in upland streams and reservoirs of Gulf of Mexico drainages. Feed on insects as juveniles, fishes and crayfishes as adults.

Micropterus salmoides – elongate body w/ dark lateral stripe, bicolor caudal fin, dorsal fins separate or nearly so, maxillae extending beyond posterior edge of eye in adults. Common throughout eastern North America. Feed on fishes and crayfish.

Pomoxis annularis – deep laterally compressed body, white w/ dark pigment arranged in vertical bars, 5-6 dorsal spines. Common in backwaters of streams and reservoirs throughout eastern North America. Feed on insects, crayfishes and fishes.

Pomoxis nigromaculatus - deep laterally compressed body, light body mottled w/ dark pigment, 7-8 dorsal spines. Common in backwaters of streams and reservoirs throughout eastern North America. Feed on insects, crayfishes and fishes.

Percidae – perches & darters

Etheostoma coosae (similar to E. scotti) – blunt snout, inferior mouth, prominent dorsal saddles & lateral blotches. Nuptial males w/ blue-green pelvic & anal fins, red 2^nd dorsal & striped 1^st dorsal (E. scotti w/ solid red 1^st dorsal). Common in riffles & runs of small streams in Coosa River drainage except Etowah R. (E. scotti in Etowah). Feed primarily on aquatic insects.

Etheostoma jordani (similar to E. etowahae) – pointed snout w/ terminal mouth, dark body w/ red spots (lacking in E. etowahae), red in dorsal & caudal fins, blue anal & pelvic fins. Common in riffles of medium upland streams of Cahaba & Coosa drainages except Etowah (E. etowahae in Etowah) and Tallapoosa rivers (E. chuckwachatte in Tallapoosa). Feed primarily on aquatic insects.

Etheostoma rupestre – moderately blunt snout, inferior mouth, large pectoral fins, 6 dorsal saddles, large green/brown spots on body, nuptial males brilliant green. Common in riffles of medium to large streams of Mobile Basin. Biology largely unknown.

Etheostoma stigmaeum – moderately blunt snouth w/ inferior mouth, dorsal saddles & lateral blotches not bold (sometimes “X” shaped), striped 1^st dorsal fin, nuptial males w/ metallic blue laterally and on head. Common over sand-gravel substrate in slower waters of small to medium streams of Mobile Basin and Lowers Mississippi drainage. Feed primarily on aquatic insects.

Perca flavescens – moderately deep body, 5-8 large dorsal saddles extending past lateral line, yellow-orange fins, dorsal fins mostly immaculate, adults >200 mm SL. Uncommon in most of the Southeast (possibly introduced in some areas). Common in slow waters of Midwest, Great Lakes and Canada. Feed primarily on aquatic insects, but large specimens piscivorous.

Percina kathae – long pointy snout, inferior mouth, dorsal saddles extending as “tiger-stripes” often fused w/ lateral blotches, orange stripe in 1^st dorsal fin. Common in runs & pools of small to large upland streams of Mobile Basin. Snout used to flip rocks to expose prey of aquatic insects.

Percina nigrofasciata – pointy snout w/ terminal mouth, prominent lateral blotches (~12) fused into lateral stripe, highly variable pigmentation. Most common and widespread darter in Southeast (from Savannah to Pearl rivers). Found in nearly all microhabitats of small to large rivers. Feed primarily on aquatic insects.

Percina palmaris – pointy snout w/ subterminal mouth, large lateral blotches (~10) often fused w/ dorsal saddles, nuptial males w/ bronze, green and blue pigment on body, orange dorsal fins, blue anal & pelvic fins. Uncommon to common in riffles of medium to large upland streams of Coosa River drainage.

Percina vigil (similar to P. antesella) – five well defined dorsal saddles, moderately pointed snout, subterminal mouth, large anal fin. Uncommon in riffles of lowland streams of Gulf Coast and Mississippi drainages (P. antesella in riffles of Etowah & Conasauga rivers). Feeds on snails and aquatic insects.

Sciaenidae – drums & croakers (know marine to family)

Aplodinotus grunniens- specimens & skeletal preps