Some months ago I was on one of my usual rants about "Why is there no
official fish book for GA?" During the course of the discussion, Martin
mentioned that he would like to see even a checklist of GA fishes. So, out
of courtesy, I set about trying to find one. I was sure that I had seen
such a list on the GA DNR website, but countless searches failed to reveal
it. I even emailed them and asked about it. They, of course, referred me to
their website. Grrrrrrrrr! I emailed again, asking them exactly WHERE on
the website, but got no further reply. So, I began consulting distribution
maps (mostly in the Peterson's) and building a list on my own. If you are
interested, I have saved the list in a Word document that I will send to
any of you upon request.
What follows is as near as I've been able to come to an accurate listing of
GA fishes. However, several notes and disclaimers are in order first.
1. I have no formal training in any life science, and neither of my degrees
is in anything remotely related to biology. This work should be considered
as little more than the efforts of an interested novice.
2. Some of the ranges on the distribution maps had me working with a
magnifying glass to determine whether or not they crossed the GA line. I
remain open to correction from the experts.
3. I did not find the last 4 darters on the list mentioned in the
Peterson's. Those came from the protected species list provided by the GA
DNR.
4. Although it is considered extinct, I have included the harelip sucker on
the basis of information I've been given that indicates that there are
still folks in the fish world who hold out hope of finding it. The last
known range of this fish did include GA.
5. An asterisk after the name of the fish indicates that it is only located
in a tiny portion of NW GA that my stepson and I call the Golden Triangle.
6. I understand that the scientific names of fishes should be rendered in
italics, but my email program refuses!
7. I have made a conscious effort not to include introduced species.
CHECKLIST OF GEORGIA FISHES
Shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum (US & GA endangered)
Lake sturgeon*, A. fulvescens
Atlantic strugeon, A. oxyrhynchus
Shovelnose sturgeon*, Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus
Paddlefish*, Polyodon spathula
Spotted gar*, Lepisosteus oculatus
Longnose gar, L. osseus
Florida gar, L. platyrhincus
Bowfin, Amia calva
Blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis
Alabama shad, A. alabamae (US candidate for status review, GA unusual)
Skipjack herring, A. chrysochloris
Hickory shad, A. mediocris
Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedanium
Threadfin shad, D. petenense
Mooneye*, Hiodon tergisus
Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis
Eastern mudminnow, Umbra pygmaea
Redfin pickerel, Esox americanus americanus
Grass pickerel, E. americanus vermiculatus
Chain pickerel, E. niger
Muskellunge, E. masquinongy
Golden shiner, Notemigonus chrysoleucas
Rosyside dace, Clinostomus funduloides
Tennessee dace*, Phoxinus tennesseensis
Flame chub*, Hemitremia flammea (GA endangered)
Creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus
Dixie chub, S. thoreauianus
River chub, Nocomis micropogon
Bluehead chub, N. leptocephalus
Central stoneroller, Campostoma anomalum
Bluefin stoneroller, C. pauciradii
Largescale stoneroller, C. oligolepsis
Fatlips minnow, Phenacobius crassilabrum (GA endangered)
Riffle minnow, P. catostomus
Stargazing minnow, P. uranops (GA threatened)
Blacknose dace, Rhinichthys atratulus
Longnose dace, R. cataractae
Silver chub*, Macrhybopsis storeriana
Blotched chub, Erimystax insignis (GA threatened)
Speckled chub, Extrarius aestivalis
Mississippi silvery minnow, Hybognathus nuchalis
Eastern silvery minnow, H. regius
Striped shiner, Luxilus chrysocephalus
Warpaint shiner, L. coccogenis
Bandfin shiner, L. zonistius
Rosefin shiner*, Lythrurus ardens
Mountain shiner, L. lirus
Pretty shiner, L. bellus, (GA threatened)
Blacktip shiner, L. atrapiculus
Sailfin shiner, Pteronotropis hypselopterus
Broadstripe shiner, P. euryzonus (GA rare)
Bluenose shiner P. welaka (GA rare)
Spotfin shiner, Cyprinella spiloptera
Steelcolor shiner, C. whipplei
Blacktail shiner, C. venusta
Whitetail shiner, C. galactura
Alabama shiner, C. callistia
Tricolor shiner, C. trichroistia
Tallapoosa shiner, C. gibbsi (GA rare)
Blue shiner, C. caerulea (US threatened, GA endangered)
Altamaha shiner, C. xaenura (GA endangered)
Ocmulgee shiner, C. callisema
Bluestripe shiner, C. callitaenia (GA threatened)
Whitefin shiner, C. nivea
Bannerfin shiner, C. leedsi
Spotfin chub, C. monacha
Pugnose minnow, Opsopoeodus emiliae
Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas
Bluntnose minnow*, P. notatus
Bullhead minnow, P. vigilax
Emerald shiner*, Notropis atherinoides
Silver shiner, N. photogenis (GA endangered)
Silverstripe shiner, N. stilbius
Sandbar shiner, N. scepticus (GA rare)
Popeye shiner, N. ariommus (GA threatened)
Telescope shiner, N. telescopus
Yellowfin shiner, N. lutipinnis
Rainbow shiner, N. chrosomus
Tennessee shiner, N. leuciodus
Longnose shiner, N. longirostris
Bigeye shiner*, N. boops
Coosa shiner, N. xaenocephalus
Burrhead shiner, N. asperifrons
Highscale shiner, N. hypsilepsis (GA threatened)
Weed shiner, N. texanus
Coastal shiner, N. petersoni
Ironcolor shiner, N. chalybaeus
Dusky shiner, N. cummingsae
Redeye chub, N. harperi (GA rare)
Highfin shiner, N. altipinnis
Ghost shiner*, N. buchanani
Mimic shiner*, N. volucellus
Mirror shiner, N. spectrunculus
Sawfin shiner, N. sp
Taillight shiner, N. maculatus
Spottail shiner, N. hudsonius
Bigeye chub*, Hybopsis amblops (GA rare)
Rosyface chub, H. rubrifrons
Lined chub, H. lineapunctata
Clear chub, H. winchelli
Silverjaw minnow, Ericymba buccata
Smallmouth buffalo, Ictobius bubalus
Quillback, Carpiodes cyprinus
River carpsucker, C. carpio
Blue sucker*, Cycleptus elongatus
White sucker, Catostomus commersoni
Spotted sucker, Minytrema melanops
Creek chubsucker, Erimyzon oblongus
Lake chubsucker, E. sucetta
Northern hog sucker, Hypentelium nigricans
Alabama hog sucker, H. etowanum
River redhorse*, Moxostoma carinatum (GA rare)
Shorthead redhorse*, M. macrolepidotum
Blacktail redhorse, M. dusquesnei
Golden redhorse, M. erythrurum
Silver redhorse, M. anisurum
Robust redhorse, M. robustum (GA endangered)
Striped jumprock, M. rupiscartes
Greater jumprock, M. lachneri
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Blue catfish*, I. furcatus
White catfish, Ameiurus catus
Yellow bullhead, A. natalis
Black bullhead, A. melas
Brown bullhead, A. nebulosus
Spotted bullhead, A. serracanthus (GA rare)
Snail bullhead, A. brunneus
Flat bullhead, A. platycephalus
Flathead catfish*, Pylodictis olivaris
Stonecat*, Noturus flavus
Tadpole madtom, N. gyrinus
Speckled madtom, N. leptacanthus
Black madtom, N. funebris (GA rare)
Freckled madtom, N. nocturnus (GA endangered)
Margined madtom, N. insignis
Frecklebelly madtom, N. munitus (GA endangered)
Mountain madtom*, N. eleutherus (GA threatened)
Yellowfin madtom*, N. flavipinnis
Pirate perch, Aphredoderus sayanus
Swampfish, Chologaster cornuta
Southern cavefish*, Typhlichthys subterraneus (GA rare)
Northern studfish*, Fundulus catenatus (GA threatened)
Stippled studfish, F. bifax (GA endangered)
Southern studfish, F. stellifer
Golden topminnow, F. chrysotus
Banded topminnow, F. cingulatus (GA rare)
Lined topminnow, F. lineolatus
Eastern starhead topminnow, F. escambiae
Blackstripe topminnow*, F. notatus
Blackspotted topminnow, F. olivaceus
Rainwater killifish, Lucania parva
Bluefin killifish, L. goodei (GA unusual)
Pygmy killifish, Leptolucania ommata
Sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna
Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis
Least killifish, Heterandria formosa
Brook silverside, Labidesthes sicculus
Inland silverside, Menidia beryllina
Banded sculpin, Cottus carolinae
Mottled sculpin, C. bairdi
Striped bass, Morone saxatilis
White bass*, M. chrysops
Yellow bass*, M. mississippiensis
Banded pygmy sunfish, Elassoma zonatum
Everglades pygmy sunfish, E. evergladei
Okefenokee pygmy sunfish, E. okefenokee
Flier, Centrarchus macropterus
Black crappie, Poxomis nigromaculatus
White crappie, P. annularis
Rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris
Shadow bass, A. ariommus
Mud sunfish, Acantharchus pomotis
Banded sunfish, Enneacanthus obesus
Bluespotted sunfish, E. gloriosus
Blackbanded sunfish, E. chaetodon (GA rare)
Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides
Suwannee bass, M. notius, (GA rare)
Spotted bass, M. punctulatus
Redeye bass, M. coosae
Shoal bass, M. sp
Smallmouth bass, M. dolomieu
Warmouth, Lepomis gulosus
Green sunfish, L. cyanellus
Spotted sunfish, L. punctatus
Bluegill, L. macrochirus
Redear sunfish, L. microlophus
Longear sunfish, L. megalotis
Dollar sunfish, L. marginatus
Redbreast sunfish, L. auritus
Walleye, Stizostedion vitreum
Sauger*, S. canadense
Blackside darter, Percina maculata
Muscadine darter, P. sp cf macrocephala (GA rare)
Dusky darter, P. sciera (GA rare)
Goldline darter, P. aurolineata US & GA threatened)
Blackbanded darter, P. nigrofasciata
Freckled darter, P. lenticula (GA endangered)
River darter*, P. shumardi (GA endangered)
Snail darter*, P. tanasi (US & GA threatened)
Amber darter, P. antesella (US & GA endangered)
Bronze darter, P. palmaris
Gilt darter, P. evides
Tangerine darter, P. aurantiaca (GA threatened)
Olive darter, P. squamata (GA threatened)
Logperch, P. caprodes
Conasauga logperch*, P. jenkinsi (US & GA endangered)
Florida sand darter, Etheostoma bifascia
Tessellated darter, E. olmstedi
Speckled darter, E. stigmaeum
Blueside darter*, E. jessiae
Greenside darter, E. blennioides
Rock darter, E. rupestre
Turquoise darter, E. inscriptum
Banded darter, E. zonale
Tennessee snubnose darter*, E. simoterum
Blackside snubnose darter*, E duryi (GA rare)
Tallapoosa darter, E. tallapoosae (GA rare)
Ellijay darter, E. sp
Coosa darter, E. coosae
Ashy darter*, E. cinereum
Redline darter*, E. rufilineatum
Wounded darter, E. vulneratum (GA endangered)
Greefin darter, E. chlorobranchium (GA threatened)
Savannah darter, E. fricksium
Trispot darter*, E. trisella (GA threatened)
Goldstripe darter, E. parvipinne (GA rare)
Rainbow darter*, E. caeruleum
Gulf darter, E. swaini
Coldwater darter*, E. ditrema (GA threatened)
Christmas darter, E. hopkinsi
Stripetail darter, E. kennecotti
Sawcheek darter, E. serrifer
Swamp darter, E. fusiforme
Brown darter, E. edwini
Holiday darter, E. brevirostrum (GA threatened)
Lipstick darter, E. chuckwachatte (GA endangered)
Etowah darter, E. etowahae (US endangered, GA threatened)
Cherokee darter, E. scotti (US & GA threatened)
Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens
[Harelip sucker, Moxostoma lacerum (considered extinct)]
If I counted correctly, that's 244 species!
Thanks to Dave Neely and Bruce Stallsmith for technical assistance.
If another list is readily available, please let me know. Wait 3 days so I
won't pull my hair out, but let me know. (-:
All The Best,
Steven A. Ellis
Kennesaw, GA
(Geez, Martin, next time ask something hard!!!)
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