Fishes of the Fourche River in Northcentral Arkansas

A survey of the fishes of Fourche River in northcentral Arkansas was made between June 1974 and March 1976. Field collections and literature records revealed that the river system was inhabited by 94 species of fish representing 21 families. The collected fishes represent both the Ozark and the lowland faunal groups. Fourteen species of Etheostoma and four species of Percina were collected. The records of Etheostoma asprigene and Elassoma zonatum represent extensions of the previously known ranges of these species within the state. Noturus gyrinus and Etheostoma histrio were recorded from the Black River system in Arkansas for the first time since 1894. Predominant highland species of minnows included Campostoma anomalum, Dionda nubila, Notropis boops, Notropis cornutus chrysocephalus, Notropis telescopus, and Notropis zonatus. Predominant lowland species of minnows were Hybognathus nuchalis, Notemigonus crysoleucas, Notropis texanus, and Notropis venustus.