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Lythrurus ardens

(Cope, 1868)

Blueside Shiner

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105517
Element CodeAFCJB52010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyLeuciscidae
GenusLythrurus
Synonyms
Notropis ardens(Cope, 1868)
Concept Reference
Dimmick, W. W., K. L. Fiorino, and B. M. Burr. 1996. Reevaluation of the Lythrurus ardens (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) complex with recognition of three evolutionary species. Copeia 1996:813-823.
Taxonomic Comments
Removed from genus Notropis and placed in genus (formerly subgenus) Lythrurus by Mayden (1989) and Coburn and Cavender (1992); this change was adopted in the 1991 AFS checklist (Robins et al. 1991). Lythrurus was retained as a subgenus by Snelson (1990).

Two subspecies were recognized by Snelson (1990): ardens from Atlantic slope drainages and New River system of Kanawha drainage, and fasciolaris from the remainder of the Ohio basin. Snelson (1990) found no strong support for the recognition of the Tar and Neuse populations ("matutinus") as a distinct subspecies or species. Dimmick et al. (1996) examined morphological and allozymic variation and concluded that L. ardens should be divided into three species, L. ardens, L. fasciolaris, and L. matutinus.
Conservation Status
Review Date2001-01-30
Change Date2000-01-20
Edition Date2001-01-30
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Rank Reasons
Small range in Atlantic Slope drainages in Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina; a 1996 taxonomic revision reduced the range of this species; many occurrences; considered stable.
Range Extent Comments
Upland regions from York River drainage (introduced), Virginia, to Roanoke River drainage of Virginia and North Carolina; also upper New River drainage, above Kanawha Falls in Virginia and West Virginia, where there is some question as to whether the species is native or recently introduced (Snelson 1990, Jenkins and Burkhead 1994, Dimmick et al. 1996). A record of the L. ardens species complex from the Savannah River drainage is erroneous (based on Notropis atherinoides), and a record from the Shenandoah River system of Virginia probably is erroneous or may represent a recent introduction. A report of the L. ardens species complex from the Big Sandy drainage of the Ohio basin, West Virginia, is erroneous (based on Notropis umbratilis); a 1945 report from the Yadkin River system of North Carolina is based on N. chlorocephalus, and another 1945 record from the Tennessee drainage of North Carolina is suspect (no voucher specimens) (Snelson 1990).
Occurrences Comments
Jenkins and Burkhead (1994) mapped many dozens of collecting sites, representing probably at least several dozen distinct occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
Localized threats may exist, but on a range-wide scale no major threats are known.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Pools, backwaters near flowing water, and runs of warm large creeks and rivers of moderate gradient and clear to often turbid water; generally in mid- and higher depths over soft and hard bottoms (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). Absent from high elevation trout streams (Snelson 1990). In deeper quiet pools in midwinter. Spawns in faster currents of riffles and pools, usually over nests of chubs (Nocomis), sometimes fallfish (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).

Reproduction

May spawn from late April to mid- or late June, mostly mid-May to early June in Virginia; some apparently mature in 1 year; lives up to 2-3 years (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
VirginiaS5Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
West VirginiaS1Yes
Roadless Areas (3)
Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
References (16)
  1. Coburn, M. M., and T. M. Cavender. 1992. Interrelationships of North American cyprinid fishes. Pages 328-373 in R.L. Mayden, editor. Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. xxvi + 969 pp.
  2. Dimmick, W. W., K. L. Fiorino, and B. M. Burr. 1996. Reevaluation of the <i>Lythrurus ardens</i> (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) complex with recognition of three evolutionary species. Copeia 1996:813-823.
  3. Jenkins, R. E., and N. M. Burkhead. 1994. Freshwater fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. xxiii + 1079 pp.
  4. 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.
  5. LeGrand, Harry (North Carolina Natural Heritage Program). 1997. Review and annotation of fish and mussel watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. September 1997.
  6. Mayden, R. L. 1989. Phylogenetic studies of North American minnows, with emphasis on the genus <i>Cyprinella</i> (Teleostei: Cypriniformes). University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Miscellaneous Publication (80):1-189.
  7. Menhinick, E. F. 1991. The freshwater fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 227 pp.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Snelson, F. F., Jr. 1990. Redescription, geographic variation, and subspecies of the minnow, <i>Notropis ardens</i>, (Pisces: Cyprinidae). Copeia 1990:966-984.
  15. 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.
  16. Trautman, M. B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Second edition. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, Ohio. 782 pp.