Fishes of the Big Blue River Basin, Kansas Part 5

STANDARD LENGTHS OF SPECIMENS ARE: WALNUT RIVER, KANSAS, 60.0 TO 72.7 mm., [=X] = 67.1; BIG BLUE RIVER, 43.3 TO 63.3 mm., [=X] = 52.0; AND CHIPPEWA RIVER, WISCONSIN, 57.6 TO 74.4 mm., [=X] = 65.9.

================+=================+=================+================== | Walnut River, | | Chippewa River, | Kansas | | Wisconsin COUNT OR | _H. n. placita_,| Big Blue River, | _H. n. nuchalis_, PROPORTIONAL | KU 3869 | Kansas KU 3812 | KU 2012 MEASUREMENT +-------+----+----+-------+----+----+-------+-----+---- | A | B | C | A | B | C | A | B | C ----------------+-------+----+----+-------+----+----+-------+-----+---- Lateral-line | 38.9 | 1.1| 0.4| 37.2 | 1.1| 0.4| 37.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 scales |(37-41)| | |(35-39)| | |(35-39)| | | | | | | | | | | Predorsal | 16.8 | 0.9| 0.7| 15.9 | 0.8| 0.2| 15.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 scale-rows |(15-19)| | |(14-17)| | |(14-17)| | | | | | | | | | | Scale-rows below| 15.6 | 1.2| 0.3| 14.9 | 1.0| 0.3| 12.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 lateral-line |(13-18)| | |(12-16)| | |(12-15)| | | | | | | | | | | Scale-rows | 16.2 | 1.1| 0.3| 15.8 | 0.8| 0.2| 13.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 around caudal |(15-19)| | |(14-18)| | |(12-15)| | peduncle | | | | | | | | | ----------------+-------+----+----+-------+----+----+-------+-----+----

TABLE 2.--Concluded.

============+===================+==================+=================== | Walnut River, | | Chippewa River, | Kansas | | Wisconsin COUNT OR | _H. n. placita_, | Big Blue River, | _H. n. nuchalis_, PROPORTIONAL| KU 3869 | Kansas KU 3812 | KU 2012 MEASUREMENT +-------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-------+-----+----- | A | B | C | A | B | C | A | B | C ------------+-------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-------+-----+----- Orbit | .051 |.0035|.0010| .059 |.0047|.0013| .068 |.0044|.0013 standard |(044- | | |(047- | | |(059- | | length | 61)| | | 71)| | | 77)| | | | | | | | | | | Gape-width |.066 |.0046|.0013| .064 |.0044|.0013| .056 |.0038|.0011 standard |(055- | | |(055- | | |(046- | | length | 75)| | | 74)| | | 64)| | | | | | | | | | | Orbit | .776 |.0083|.0024| .907 |.0080|.0023| 1.223 |.0119|.0034 gape-width |(647- | | |(712- | | |(953- | | | 945)| | |1.067)| | | 1.566)| | ------------+-------+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-------+-----+-----

Bailey (1956:333) does not consider the southwestern _Hybognathus placita_ (Girard) specifically distinct from the northeastern _H.

nuchalis_, but little evidence of intergradation has been published.

In Table 2, I have compared measurements and counts of 50 specimens of _Hybognathus_ from the Big Blue River, 50 _H. n. placita_ from the Walnut River, Kansas (Arkansas River Basin), and 50 _H. n.

nuchalis_ from Wisconsin. Measurements and counts were made by methods described by Hubbs and Lagler (1947:8-15) and measurements are expressed as thousandths of standard length.

_Hybognathus_ from the Big Blue River tend to have fewer, larger scales than _H. n. placita_ from the Walnut River, Kansas, but more and smaller scales than _H. n. nuchalis_ from Wisconsin. In specimens from the Blue River, the size of the orbit divided by standard length, and the width of gape divided by standard length and width of orbit, are also intermediate between the Walnut River and Wisconsin specimens, but tend toward the former. Specimens from the Big Blue River resemble _H. n. placita_ from the Walnut River in body shape, robustness, and in the embedding of scales on the nape.

=Pimephales notatus= (Rafinesque), bluntnose minnow: Meek (1895:136); and Evermann and c.o.x (1896:399). Stations 2-S, 3-S, 5-G, 6-S, 8-S, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 16-G, 19-G, 27-G, 29-G, 53-S, 54-G, and 58-G.

The bluntnose minnow preferred the clearer creeks, with gravel or gravel-silt bottoms, but occurred rarely in the mainstream of the Big Blue River. Males and females in high breeding condition were taken on July 14, 1958. The temperature of the water was 75.5 F.

=Pimephales promelas= Rafinesque, fathead minnow: Meek (1895: 136); and Evermann and c.o.x (1896:397-398). All stations excepting 1-S, 4-S, 12-G, 30-M, 43-S, 44-S, and 56-S.

Small muddy streams were preferred by _P. promelas_; however, the fathead minnow was taken in all habitats, and in a.s.sociation with most other species.

Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6-7) may have recorded _P. promelas_ from the Big Blue River Basin, Nebraska, as "blackhead minnows."

=Campostoma anomalum plumbeum= (Girard), stoneroller. All stations excepting 1-S, 2-S, 3-S, 14-S, 15-S, 21-G, 22-G, 28-G, 30-M, 33-M, 34-M, 35-M, 36-M, 37-M, 38-S, 41-S, 44-S, 45-M, 51-M, 52-S, and 55-M.

Stonerollers were usually taken in riffles with gravel-rubble bottoms. Those individuals collected in areas with mud or sand bottoms were almost invariably in the current, or in the edge of currents.

Specimens from the Big Blue River Basin have an average of 47.4 scale-rows around the body (range 42-54).

=Ictalurus melas= (Rafinesque), black bullhead: Evermann and c.o.x (1896:387) as _Ameiurus melas_ (Rafinesque); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-7, 10) as "bullheads." Stations 2-S, 6-S, 7-G, 11-G, 16-G, 20-G, 22-G, 23-G, 24-G, 28-G, 35-M, 40-M, 51-M, 53-S, 55-M, 56-S, 57-M, and 58-G.

Black bullhead occurred in all habitats, but were less commonly taken in the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers than in other streams.

=Ictalurus natalis= (LeSueur), yellow bullhead. Stations 7-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 17-G, 18-G, 19-G, 34-M, 35-M, 36-M, 37-M, 40-M, 47-M, 48-M, 53-S, and 55-M.

The yellow bullhead inhabited the muddy-bottomed streams and the upland, gravelly creeks, usually occurring in the headwaters. I obtained only one _I. natalis_ in the sandy Big Blue River.

=Ictalurus punctatus= (Rafinesque), channel catfish: Cragin (1885:107); Meek (1895:135); Evermann and c.o.x (1896:386); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6-7, 10) as "channel catfish." Stations 1-S, 2-S, 3-S, 4-S, 5-G, 6-S, 7-G, 8-S, 9-G, 11-G, 14-S, 15-S, 16-G, 18-G, 25-S, 27-G, 30-M, 35-M, 38-S, 39-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 44-S, 46-M, 50-S, 51-M, 52-S, 53-S, and 56-S.

Channel catfish were most common in the larger, sandy streams, but occurred in other kinds of streams. The ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 40 channel catfish were: I, no fish; II, 7.3 (16); III, 10.6 (5); IV, 12.3 (5); V, 13.3 (6); VI, 15.5 (4); VII, 18.0 (3); and VIII, 21.9 (1). These lengths are slightly lower than averages reported by Finnell and Jenkins (1954:5) in Oklahoma impoundments.

The length-frequency distribution of 438 channel catfish, collected by rotenone on August 5 and 7, 1958, indicated that two age-groups were represented. Without examination of spines, I a.s.signed 265 fish to age-group O (1.3 to 2.9 inches, average 2.5) and 173 fish to age-group I (3.1 to 5.8 inches, average 4.5). The average total length of age group I (4.5 inches) is only slightly higher than the total length at the first annulus reported as average for Oklahoma (4.0 inches, Finnell and Jenkins, _loc. cit._). It seems unlikely that my yearling fish taken in August, 1958, would have reached the length at the second annulus recorded in my study of spines (7.3 inches) by the end of the 1958 growing season.

From 1952 to 1956, severe drought was prevalent in Kansas, probably causing streams to flow less than at any previously recorded time (Minckley and Cross, in press). This drought must have resulted in reduced populations of fishes in the streams. The channel catfish hatched in 1956 were therefore subjected to low compet.i.tion for food and s.p.a.ce when normal flow was resumed in 1957, and grew rapidly, reaching an average total length of 7.3 inches at the second annulus, while channel catfish that were members of the large 1957 and 1958 hatches suffered more compet.i.tion and grew more slowly.

=Noturus flavus= Rafinesque, stonecat: Jennings (1942:365). Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 16-G, 25-S, 28-G, 38-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 52-S, 53-S, and 56-S.

_Noturus flavus_ frequented riffles and swift currents along sandbars in the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers. Cross (1954:311) reported that "the shale-strewn riffles of the South Fork [of the Cottonwood River, Kansas] provide ideal habitat for the stonecat."

In my study-area, this species was found not only on rubble-bottomed riffles, but occurred along both stationary and shifting sandbars where no cover was apparent.

=Pylodictis olivaris= (Rafinesque), flathead catfish: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:7) as "yellow catfish." Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 8-S, 15-S, 25-S, 38-S, 41-S, 43-S, 44-S, 53-S, and 56-S.

Flathead catfish were found only in the larger rivers. The species was taken rarely by seine, but was readily obtained by electric shocker. Data on the age and growth and food-habits of this species are to be the subject of another paper.

=Anguilla bostoniensis= (LeSueur), American eel: Jennings (1942:365).

American eels are now rare in Kansas, and none was taken in my survey. The specimen reported by Jennings (_loc. cit._) is at Kansas State College (KSC 2916), and was taken by I. D. Graham from the Big Blue River, Riley County, 1885.

=Fundulus kansae= Garman, plains killifish. Station 42-S.

The plains killifish was collected by me only at Station 42-S.

Specimens were collected from my Station 4-S by the Kansas State College cla.s.s in fisheries management in 1954 (KSC 4985). My specimens were 11 to 13 mm. in total length.

=Roccus chrysops= (Rafinesque), white ba.s.s. Station 3-S.

That the white ba.s.s is indigenous to Kansas is evidenced by records of Graham (1885:77) and Cragin (1885:111); however, since that time, and prior to the introduction of this species into reservoirs in the State, _R. chrysops_ has rarely been recorded in Kansas. I collected young white ba.s.s at Station 3-S in both 1957 and 1958, and I collected them also in an oxbow of the Kansas River four miles west of Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, in the mouth of McDowell's Creek, Riley County, and in Deep Creek, Wabaunsee County, and I saw other specimens from an oxbow of the Kansas River on the Fort Riley Military Reservation, Riley County, Kansas. The apparent increase in abundance of white ba.s.s in the Kansas River Basin must be attributable to introductions in reservoirs, with subsequent escape and establishment in the streams.

=Micropterus salmoides salmoides= (Lacepede), largemouth ba.s.s.

Stations 6-S, 11-G, 43-S, and 45-M.

Four largemouth ba.s.s were taken. This species has been widely stocked in farm-ponds and other impoundments in Kansas.

=Lepomis cyanellus= Rafinesque, green sunfish: Breukelman (1940:382); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5, 7-8, 10) as "green sunfish." All stations excepting 1-S, 2-S, 4-S, 8-S, 9-G, 15-S, 22-G, 25-S, 30-M, 32-G, 34-M, 38-S, 39-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 44-S, 45-M, 46-M, 47-M, 50-S, and 52-S.

Green sunfish occurred primarily in the muddy streams. The ages and total lengths at the last annulus for 25 specimens are as follows: I, 1.1 (9); II, 2.2 (4); III, 3.1 (7); IV, 5.4 (4); and V, 6.0 (1).

Male green sunfish were seen on nests on June 29, July 1, and July 9, 1958.

=Lepomis humilis= (Girard), orangespotted sunfish: Meek (1895:137); Evermann and c.o.x (1896:418); Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6) as "orange spots"; and Breukelman (1940:382). All stations excepting 1-S, 9-G, 13-G, 15-G, 17-G, 21-G, 26-G, 34-M, 36-M, 38-M, 43-M, 44-S, 47-M, 50-S, and 52-S.

_Lepomis humilis_ was most common over sand-silt bottoms. Only two age-groups were found; their calculated total lengths were I, 1.7 (15); and II, 2.4 (10). Orangespotted sunfish were seen nesting on the same dates as _Lepomis cyanellus_.

=Lepomis macrochirus= Rafinesque, bluegill. Stations 7-G, 13-G, 16-G, 24-G, and 59-G.

This species has been widely stocked in Kansas. Only young-of-the-year and sub-adults were taken, and these were rare.

=Pomoxis annularis= Rafinesque, white c.r.a.ppie: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-8, 10) as "white c.r.a.ppie." Stations 3-S, 6-S, 8-S, 12-G, 42-S, and 53-S.

White c.r.a.ppie were rare, except in a borrow-pit at Station 6-S. Ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 50 specimens from 6-S are as follows: I, 3.6 (22); II, 5.0 (14); III, 7.1 (5); IV, 8.3 (7); and V, 10.7 (2).

=Pomoxis nigromaculatus= (LeSueur), black c.r.a.ppie. Station 6-S.

One black c.r.a.ppie (KU 4174) was taken. Canfield and Wiebe (1931:10) noted: "The Black c.r.a.ppie has been planted here [Big Blue River Basin in Nebraska] by the State, but, apparently, is not propagating itself."

=Stizostedion canadense= (Smith), sauger. Station 56-S.

Mr. Larry Stallbaumer, of Marysville, Kansas, obtained a sauger (KU 4179) while angling on May 25, 1958.