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<br />282
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<br />UTAH ACADEMY PROCEEDINGS, VOL. 42, PART II, 1965
<br />
<br />ICTALURIDAE: /ctalurus melas (Rafinesque). Black bullhead.
<br />
<br />This catfish was introduced into Utah Lake in 1914. Since that time
<br />it has been widely dispersed throughout the state through human
<br />agency. Nineteen fish were collected in backwater areas; they ranged
<br />from 48 mm. to 149 mm. in length. Stomach contents of the larger
<br />fish revealed ingestion of small killifish, Bony tail, Colorado squawfish,
<br />aquatic insects, organic detritus, seeds, etc. This omnivorous species
<br />preferred the still water areas of the river.
<br />
<br />/ctalUTUS punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel catfish.
<br />
<br />The Channel catfish is native to the Mississippi drainage and is now
<br />widespread throughout the Colorado River. Specimens collected (lOll
<br />rano-ed from 33 mm. to 406 mm. in length. Its omnivorous feedil\~
<br />habits have allowed successful establishment in the Colorado River.
<br />Stomach analysis of 37 catfish in summer revealed that 8 percent of
<br />their diet consisted of minnows, 45 percent consisted of organic detritus.
<br />and 41 percent consisted of crayfish. Among the larger invertebrates
<br />occurring here, the crayfish, Orconectes virilis (Hagen) is w~rthy
<br />of special mention. AccordingJo H. H. Hobbs, Jr. of the U. S. NatIOnal
<br />Museum, who verified our preliminary identification, this is the first
<br />record of the occurrence of Orconectes virilis (Hagen) in this section
<br />of the Colorado River. This cra'dish is native to the Great Lakes drain-
<br />age and the Mississippi draindge and shows a preference for river~
<br />rather than ponds and other lentic waters. It is commonly collect~d
<br />in spring and summer months and forms a large part of the diet
<br />of the larger fishes found near Moab.
<br />
<br />CYPRINODONTIDAE: Fundulus zebrinus Jordan and Gilbert. Rio
<br />Grande killifish.
<br />
<br />Thirty-one killifish were collected ranging. from 30 mm. to 78 mm.
<br />in length. They are commonly found and observed near the mouths of
<br />tributary washes and gravel-bottomed backwaters. They have been
<br />found in the stomach analysis of catfish, sunfish, and other piscivoro~s
<br />forms in the river. Specimens were maintained in laboratory aquaria
<br />for a year. Food preference for aquatic insects is strongly indicated.
<br />
<br />CENTRARCHIDAE: Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Largemouth
<br />bass.
<br />
<br />This fish was introduced into Utah in 1890 and is taken in many
<br />parts of the Colorado drainage. Five small specimens collected in. the
<br />study ranged from 35 rom. to 45 mm. in length. Food consisted mamly
<br />of aquatic insects. Inappropriate sampling methods may have been a
<br />factor in the failure to collect more specimens.
<br />
<br />Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque. Green sunfish.
<br />
<br />The areen sunfish is found throughout the Colorado drainage. Speci-
<br />menso collected ranged from 24 nun. to 130 nun, in length. Food
<br />analysis reveals a strong preference for minnows. Sunfish were col.
<br />lected in all parts of the study area but were commonly found near
<br />shore.
<br />
<br />
<br />'.l
<br />
<br />TABA, MURPHY, AND FROST: NOTES ON THE FISHES
<br />
<br />283
<br />
<br />Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque. Bluegill.
<br />. One fish (48 mm.) was collected in a backwater area. The stomach
<br />.. of this specimen was empty. The bluegill is apparently unsuited for
<br />'the turbid habitat of the Colorado River.
<br />
<br />Bibliography
<br />
<br />1960. A list of common and scientific names
<br />States and Canada, second edition, Spec. Pub.
<br />
<br />.
<br />~ AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY.
<br />ti of fishes from the United
<br />'I No.2, 102.
<br />t BECKMAN; W. C. 19~i2. Guide to the fishes of Colorado. Univ. of Colorado
<br />! Museum, Leaflet 11 :110.
<br />.~ LA RIVERS, 1. 1962. Fish and fisheries of Nevada. Nevada State Fish and
<br />r - Game Commission, 782 pp., 270.figs.
<br />l McDONALD, D. B. AND P. A. DOTSON. 1960. Fishery investigations of the G~en
<br />t Canyon and Flaming Gorge impoundment areas. Utah State Dept. of FIsh
<br />.; and Game, Dept. Information Bull. 60-3:70, mimeo.
<br />'-,
<br />:I MILLER, R. R. 1952. Bait fishes of the lower Colorado River from Lake Mead,
<br />; Nevada, to Yuma, Arizona, with a key for their identification. Calif. Fish
<br />* and Game, 38(1) :7-42, 32 figs.
<br />i SIGLER, W. F. AND R. R. l\hLLER. 1963. Fishes of Utah. Utah State Department
<br />i of Fish and Game. Salt Lake City, Utah.
<br />.. SIMON, J. R. 1946. Wyoming fishes. Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. Bull.
<br />! 4: 129, iIIus.
<br />t SMITH, G. R. 1959. Annotated checklist ~f fishes of Glen Cany~n. qn) Ecologi.
<br />" caI studies of the: flora and fauna III Glen Canyon. Umverslty of Utah
<br />i Anthrop. Paper 40 (Glen Canyon Serie~ No.7): B:195.199.
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