8 replies to this topic

[rndouglas]

I visited Saline Creek (Osage River drainage) in central Missouri today (about 25 minutes southwest of Jefferson City) to try my hand at microfishing, snorkeling, and whatever else seemed like a good idea. I mostly learned that I made my fish photo box way too deep and that I really wish I had chosen an opaque color for the backs/sides! 

 

I ended up catching a good number of fish, but I'm a bit stuck with several IDs! I wasn't planning on fishing this summer, as we're soon moving to the East Coast, and I don't have the slightest idea which of my ~10 book boxes contains books that might help me ID these fish. 

 

I'll give my best guess based on what I remember from the guidebooks (disclaimer: I didn't get to go fishing at all in 2014, so I haven't really been practicing my ID skills in ~2 years!) and what I know to be in the drainage based on the 1970s edition of Fishes of Missouri. 

 

Number 1:  Ozark Minnow? I remember Ozark Minnows being abundant at this location when I was there in June 2013, and I think I remember they have those little black spots along the lateral line? Or maybe I'm way off. 

 

Number 2: Young Northern Studfish?

 

Number 3: Orangethroat Darter?

 

Number 4: Common or Striped Shiner. I can't for the life of me remember which shiner is in that drainage, and I don't remember how to tell them apart.

 

Number 5: Sand Shiner? I'm guessing because it reminds me of Sand Shiners I caught a couple years ago, but my memory may be fuzzy. I think I took a dorsal photograph of this one if it would help at all.

 

Number 6: Bleeding Shiner? It reminds me of Number 1, but the lateral line on Number 1 is pretty dark, whereas this one is pale. Or maybe it's just a change between breeding/non-breeding colors or male vs. female? I wish I had my books!

 

Number 7: No idea. The rounded snout is what caught my eye and made me throw it in the photo tank.

[Evan P]

I believe 1 and 6 are Bleeding Shiners. I would agree that number 2 appears to be a Northern Studfish. Number 3 is certainly an Orangethroat, unless that drainage has one of the varieties that was split from spectabile. Number 4 is definitely one of the two, like you said. Look at some field guides or fishmap.org for your answer. Number 5 isn't streamlined enough to be a sand shiner, but I'm not sure what it is. It almost looks like a Cyprinella. And I believe number 7 is an Ozark Minnow with a messed up face.

[Isaac Szabo]

I think you guys have most of them right, though I think both 4 and 5 are striped shiners. 7 I'm not sure about.

 

Edit: I think Evan could be right that 7 is just an Ozark Minnow doing something weird with its mouth.

[keepnatives]

I collected at saline creek back in the 80's I think caught some nice plains topminnows,  Fundulus sciadicus and some beautiful longears as well in addition to most of what you got.  Also followed some tracks in the sand bottom in shallow water and foound 3 baby softshell turtles buried under the sand. I agree no. 7 looks like an Ozark minnow.  

[Evan P]

I think Isaac is right about #5 being another Striped Shiner. Younger individuals and females tend to have less apparent dark edges to their scales.

[rndouglas]

Thanks for all the replies! I think I do see the similarities between #5 and #4 now that you guys pointed it out. Same for #1 and #6. I really appreciate your help...this should go a long ways in my fish ID education!

[BenCantrell]

IDs look right to me.  Nice photos Ryan!

[Matt DeLaVega]

Yes, it is a big help to have photos that look like fish rather than a blur. Thanks for doing it right!

[Chasmodes]

Based on the looks of your pics, I'd say that your box works just fine!