List of Species in Cape LaCroix Creek

Here is a list of the species found in Cape LaCroix Creek this fall.  I will have an official report finished by Friday.

Topminnows (Fundulus) were the most abundant species.  Although I captured and released individuals without prominent black spots, all of my specimens were F. olivaceus.  Therefore I can only with certainty that the blackspotted topminnow is found in the creek.  Further downstream I have seen gar (Lepisosteus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) neither of which were present in my study area.  A different assemblage of fish is likely found in the deeper, lower gradient portions of the creek.  However, depth and an uneven bottom rendered sieving impractical here.  Other methods of sampling would be necessary to determine the fish fauna of the entire creek.

Cyprinidae
Semotilus atromaculatus  creek chub
Notropis boops  bigeye shiner
Lythrurus umbratilus  redfin shiner
Luxilus chrysocephalus  striped shiner
Pimephales notatus  bluntnose minnow
Campostoma oligolepis  common stoneroller

Centrarchidae
Micropterus salmoides  largemouth bass
Micropterus punctulatus  spotted bass
Lepomis macrochirus  bluegill
Lepomis megalotis   longear sunfish (pictured)

Fundulidae
Fundulus olivaceous  blackspotted topminnow

Atherinidae
Labidesthes sicculus  brook silverside

Poecilidae
Gambusia affinis  mosquitofish 

Percidae
Etheostoma spectabile  orangethroat darter