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The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.




Notropis hudsonius
Notropis hudsonius
(Spottail Shiner)
Fishes
Native Transplant

Copyright Info
Notropis hudsonius (Clinton, 1824)

Common name: Spottail Shiner

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.govITIS logo

Identification: Becker (1983); Page and Burr (1991); Jenkins and Burkhead (1994); Pflieger (1997); Gilbert (1998). Two distinct morphological forms are known (Gilbert 1998).

Size: 15 cm.

Native Range: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from the Merrimack River to the Altamaha River, Georgia; Hudson Bay, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins from Ontario to Mackenzie River drainage (Arctic basin), Northwest Territories and Alberta, and south to northern Ohio, southern Illinois, and northeastern Montana (Page and Burr 1991).

Native range data for this species provided in part by NatureServe NS logo
Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Nonindigenous Occurrences:

Table 1. States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Notropis hudsonius are found here.

StateFirst ObservedLast ObservedTotal HUCs with observations†HUCs with observations†
CO198520083Big Thompson; Middle South Platte-Cherry Creek; South Platte
GA199719971Upper Flint
ID198619903Middle Bear; Salmon Falls; Upper Snake-Rock
IA198719974Big Papillion-Mosquito; Blackbird-Soldier; Missouri-Little Sioux; Upper Chariton
ME197919942Lower Androscoggin River; Lower Kennebec River
MT1982201124Battle; Beaver; Big Horn Lake; Big Sandy; Bullwhacker-Dog; Flatwillow; Fort Peck Reservoir; Little Powder; Lower Milk; Lower Yellowstone; Lower Yellowstone-Sunday; Marias; Middle Milk; Missouri-Poplar; Poplar; Prairie Elk-Wolf; St. Marys; Sun; Teton; Upper Milk; Upper Missouri-Dearborn; Upper Tongue; Upper Yellowstone-Pompeys Pillar; Willow
NE199119985Blackbird-Soldier; Keg-Weeping Water; Lewis and Clark Lake; Lower Platte; Tarkio-Wolf
NH197319732Merrimack River; West River-Connecticut River
NY198519942Black; Upper Allegheny
ND198119813Lake Sakakawea; Painted Woods-Square Butte; Upper Lake Oahe
OH192620224Little Muskingum-Middle Island; Raccoon-Symmes; Tuscarawas; Upper Ohio-Shade
PA198519851Upper Allegheny
SD198119983Lewis and Clark Lake; Lower Lake Oahe; Rapid
UT198319922Lower Weber; Utah Lake
VA194519864Kanawha; Middle New; Upper James; Upper New
WV197220233Little Muskingum-Middle Island; Middle New; Upper Ohio-Shade
WY197819952Lower Wind; Upper Belle Fourche

Table last updated 12/9/2024

† Populations may not be currently present.


Means of Introduction: Commonly stocked as a forage fish. According to Cooper (1983), the recent successful introduction of this species (and white bass Morone chrysops) into the Allegheny Reservoir in Warren County, Pennsylvania, possibly was derived from attempted introductions of the emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides into this reservoir from Lake Erie stocks. Jenkins and Burkhead (1994) summarized the literature dealing with its spread in the New River drainage of Virginia and West Virginia. They speculated that it was introduced to the New drainage of Virginia, probably in Claytor Lake, either as bait, purposely for forage, or inadvertently along with sportfish stockings. After its discovery in Claytor Lake in the late 1940s, the species spread widely in the New River below Claytor Lake. The first West Virginia record is dated 1972 from the lower East River near the Virginia border. From there it spread into other parts of the New River drainage deeper in West Virginia. In Maine, the species was probably imported illegally as a baitfish; it was first observed in the state 1979 in the Cathance River, Kennebec River drainage (Kircheis 1994). It was stocked as a forage fish in Willard Bay, Utah, in 1982, and in Utah Lake in 1983 (Sigler and Sigler 1987). Specimens were taken from several locations in the upper Flint drainage, Georgia, in late 1997 (Ruessler, personal communication), these likely represent the result of a bait bucket introduction rather than from natural dispersal.

Status: Established, or presumably established, in Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming; reported from Colorado.

Impact of Introduction: The impacts of this species are currently unknown, as no studies have been done to determine how it has affected ecosystems in the invaded range. The absence of data does not equate to lack of effects. It does, however, mean that research is required to evaluate effects before conclusions can be made.

Remarks: Although this species has been recorded from the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Mettee et al. 1996), there are no records of this fish from the lower reaches of that river (Mettee et al. 1996). Consequently, it is very unlikely that Notropis hudsonius recently discovered in the upper Flint drainage were the result of individuals dispersing naturally downstream into Lake Seminole and up the Flint River. Jenkins et al. (1972) listed it as "probably or possibly introduced" to the Kanawha River drainage above the falls. Voucher specimens: Georgia (UF uncatalogued).

References: (click for full references)

Rasmussen, J.L. 1998. Aquatic nuisance species of the Mississippi River basin. 60th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Aquatic Nuisance Species Symposium, Dec. 7, 1998, Cincinnati, OH.

Whittier, T. R., D. B. Halliwell and R. A. Daniels. 2000. Distributions of lake fishes in the Northeast - II. The Minnows (Cyprinidae). Northeastern Naturalist. 7(2): 3- 131-156.

Other Resources:
FishBase Summary

Author: Leo Nico, and Pam Fuller

Revision Date: 3/5/2015

Peer Review Date: 3/5/2015

Citation Information:
Leo Nico, and Pam Fuller, 2024, Notropis hudsonius (Clinton, 1824): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=596, Revision Date: 3/5/2015, Peer Review Date: 3/5/2015, Access Date: 12/9/2024

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.

Disclaimer:

The data represented on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, extent of coverage and origin. It is the user's responsibility to use these data consistent with their intended purpose and within stated limitations. We highly recommend reviewing metadata files prior to interpreting these data.

Citation information: U.S. Geological Survey. [2024]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [12/9/2024].

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