Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Brook Silverside

Labidesthes sicculus

(Cope, 1865)

Brook Silverside

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1163238
Element CodeAFCND01020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderAtheriniformes
FamilyAtherinopsidae
GenusLabidesthes
Other Common Names
Crayon d'argent (FR)
Concept Reference
Werneke, D.C. and J.W. Armbruster. 2015. Silversides of the genus Labidesthes (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae). Zootaxa 4032(5): 535-550.
Taxonomic Comments
Werneke and Armbruster (2015) elevated Labidesthes sicculus vanhyningi to species status based morphometric, meristic, and osteological data from populations across the range. This followed work by Bloom et al. (2009), which found 14.7% uncorrected DNA sequence divergence and a well-supported sister relationship between L. s. sicculus and L. s. vanhyningi based on a phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial ND2. The two species occur sympatrically in some locations.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2020-09-07
Change Date1996-09-20
Edition Date2020-09-07
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2012), minor rev. M.Ormes (2020)
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
This is a widespread species with many occurrences and no documentation of widespread threats or population declines.
Range Extent Comments
This species is native to the southern portions of the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes basin and the Mississippi River basin from southern Quebec to eastern Minnesota and south to Louisiana; and in the Gulf of Mexico drainages from the Brazos River east to the Pascagoula River (Werneke and Armbruster 2015).

This species has been widely stocked as a forage fish within and outside the natural range.
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations).
Threat Impact Comments
Some populations have experienced declines due to invasions by Menidia species, especially in highly modified river systems such as the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway where dams and habitat modification have transformed previously lotic habitats, preferred by Labidesthes, to lentic habitats, preferred by Menidia (Herbert and Gelwick 2003, Taylor et al. 2008, Piteo et al. 2017).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat varies geographically. In some areas, this species is abundant near the surface of clear warm waters of rivers, creeks, lakes, and reservoirs. In other areas, it occurs only in slow areas and backwaters of rivers. In streams, it occupies cool and warm waters, low and moderate gradients, and areas with various substrates and differing amounts of vegetation (Burkhead and Jenkins 1991). Apparently it favors clear water in most areas. In lakes, young stay offshore initially, later in summer they begin to move into shallows at night. Generally individuals remain inshore over water up to 2 meters deep in winter. Spawning occurs over aquatic vegetation or gravel beds. Eggs adhere to objects contacting sticky filament attached to egg.

Ecology

Often forms large schools.

Introduced Menidia beryllina (inland silverside) may competitively displace L. sicculus from certain habitats, but the two species may coexist under other conditions (see Pratt et al. 2002).

Reproduction

Spawns in spring and summer. In the northcentral states, spawns May-August, mostly May-June at water temperatures of 18-23 C. Eggs hatch in 8-9 days at 23-24 C. Spawns at age I, typically dies shortly thereafter. (Becker 1983). Maximum longevity is 21-23 months (Burkhead and Jenkins 1991).
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MissouriSNRYes
OhioS5Yes
NebraskaSNANo
AlabamaS5Yes
MississippiS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
ArkansasS4Yes
VermontSUYes
GeorgiaS5Yes
New YorkS3Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
MichiganS5Yes
West VirginiaS4Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
IowaS4Yes
LouisianaS5Yes
KentuckyS4Yes
TexasS2Yes
WisconsinS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
VirginiaS2Yes
IllinoisS4Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
KansasS4Yes
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS4Yes
QuebecS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modifications———
7.2 - Dams & water management/use———
7.2.9 - Small Dams———
7.2.10 - Large Dams———
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases———
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases———
8.2.2 - Named species———

—

Roadless Areas (2)
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
PenhookOzark-St. Francis National Forest6,566
References (50)
  1. Becker, G. C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 1,052 pp.
  2. Bloom, D.D., K.R. Piller, J. Lyons, J., N. Mercado-Silva, and M. Medina-Nava. 2009. Systematics and biogeography of the silverside tribe Menidiini (Teleostomi: Atherinopsidae) based on the mitochondrial ND2 gene. Copeia 2009: 408–417.
  3. Boschung, H. T., and R. L. Mayden. 2004. Fishes of Alabama. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 960 pp.
  4. Buchanan, Thomas M. (Department of Biology. Westark College AR). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, TNC. March 2000.
  5. Burkhead, N. M., and R. E. Jenkins. 1991. Fishes. Pages 321-409 in K. Terwilliger (coordinator). Virginia's Endangered Species: Proceedings of a Symposium. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.
  6. Burr, B. M., and M. L. Warren, Jr. 1986a. Distributional atlas of Kentucky fishes. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Scientific and Technical Series No. 4, Frankfort, Kentucky. 398 pp.
  7. Burr, Brooks M. (Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University) and Donovan B. Henry. 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. June 2000.
  8. Cooper, E. L. 1983. Fishes of Pennsylvania and the northeastern United States. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park. 243 pp.
  9. Cross, F. B., and J. T. Collins. 1995. Fishes in Kansas. Second Edition, revised. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. xvii + 315 pp.
  10. Douglas, N. H. 1974. Freshwater fishes of Louisiana. Claitor's Publishing Division, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 443 pp.
  11. Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. xiv + 681 pp.
  12. Fago, D. 2000. Relative abundance and distribution of fishes in Wisconsin. Fish Distribution Database to year 2000. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  13. Goodchild, C. D. 1990. Status of the brook silverside, <i>Labidesthes sicculus</i>, in Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 104:36-44.
  14. Harlan, J. R., E. B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.
  15. Herbert, M.E., and F.P. Gelwick. 2003. Spatial variation of headwater fish assemblages explained by hydrologic variability and upstream effects of impoundment. Copeia 2003:273–284.
  16. Hoehn, Theodore S. and D. Gray Bass (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)). 2000a. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, TNC. March 2000.
  17. Hrabik, Robert A. (Missouri Department of Conservation). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. May 1997.
  18. Hubbs, C. L. 1921. An ecological study of the life history of the fresh-water atherine fish <i>Labidesthes sicculus</i>. Ecology 2(4):262-276.
  19. Jenkins, R. E., and N. M. Burkhead. 1994. Freshwater fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. xxiii + 1079 pp.
  20. Lang, Nicholas (Illinois Natural History Survey). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.
  21. Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
  22. LeGrand, Harry (North Carolina Natural Heritage Program). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Larry Master, ABI. July 2000.
  23. Marcy, B. C., Jr., D. E. Fletcher, F. D. Martin, M. H. Paller, and M.J.M. Reichert. 2005. Fishes of the middle Savannah River basin. University of Georgia Press, Athens. xiv + 460 pp.
  24. Master, L. L. and A. L. Stock. 1998. Synoptic national assessment of comparative risks to biological diversity and landscape types: species distributions. Summary Report submitted to Environmental Protection Agency. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA. 36 pp.
  25. Menhinick, E. F. 1991. The freshwater fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 227 pp.
  26. Mettee, Maurice. F. "Scott" (Icthyologist, Geological Survey of Alabama). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, TNC. April 2000.
  27. Mettee, M. F., P. E. O'Neil, and J. M. Pierson. 1996. Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Oxmoor House, Birmingham, Alabama. 820 pp.
  28. Nelson, J.S. 1968. Life history of the brook silverside, <i>Labidesthes sicculus</i>, in Crooked Lake, Indiana. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 97(3): 293-296.
  29. Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
  30. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
  31. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  32. Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
  33. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  34. Pflieger, W. L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation. Columbia, Missouri. viii + 343 pp.
  35. Piteo, M.S., M.R. Kendrick, and P.M. Harris. 2017. Life history of <i>Labidesthes vanhyningi</i> (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae; Stout Silverside) in the Black Warrior River drainage, Alabama. Southeastern Naturalist 16(3): 451-463.
  36. Pratt, K. E., C. W. Hargrave, and K. B. Gido. 2002. Rediscovery of <i>Labidesthes sicculus</i> (Atherinidae) in Lake Texoma (Oklahome-Texas). Southwestern Naturalist 47:142-147.
  37. Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
  38. Robison, H. W. and T. M. Buchanan. 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. The University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, Arkansas. 536 pp.
  39. Rohde, Fritz (Icthyologist, North Carolina Division of Marine Fishes). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI.
  40. Ross, S. T., and W. M. Brenneman. 1991. Distribution of freshwater fishes in Mississippi. Freshwater Fisheries Report No. 108. D-J Project Completion Report F-69. Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and Parks. Jackson, Mississippi. 548 pp.
  41. Ross, Stephen T. (University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Biological Sciences). 2001. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI.
  42. Scott, W. B., and E. J. Crossman. 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Bulletin 184. 966 pp.
  43. Skelton, Christopher E. (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Natural Heritage Program). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, TNC. March 2000.
  44. Smith, C. L. 1985. The inland fishes of New York State. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, New York, xi + 522 pp.
  45. Smith, P. W. 1979. The fishes of Illinois. University of Illinois Press, Urbana. 314 pp.
  46. Stauffer, J. R., Jr., J. M. Boltz, and L. R. White. 1995. The fishes of West Virginia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 146:1-389.
  47. Taylor, C.M., M.E. Roberts, D.S. Milligan, and W.T. Slack. 2008. Long-term changes to fish assemblages and the flow regime in a southeastern US river system after extensive aquatic ecosystem fragmentation. Ecography 31:787–797.
  48. Trautman, M. B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Second edition. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, Ohio. 782 pp.
  49. Werneke, D.C. and J.W. Armbruster. 2015. Silversides of the genus <i>Labidesthes</i> (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae). Zootaxa 4032(5): 535-550.
  50. Whittier, Thomas R. 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.