BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA STATE MUSFUM BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Volume Il Number I THE FISHES OF THE SANTA FE RIVER SYSTEM Thomas R. Hellier, Jr. + , •111,• ·. 0A *f. . f :,1 I -r * --. ~ /853 ' UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Gainesville 1967 Numbers of the BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM are pub- lished at irregular intervals. Volumes contain about 800 pages and are not nec- essarily completed in any one calendar year. WALTER AuFFENBERG, Managing Editor OLIVER L. AUSTIN, JR., Editor Consultants for this issue: Warren Freiberg Carter S. Gilbert Communications concerning purchase or exchange of the publication and all manuscripls should be addressed to the Managing Editor of the Bulletin, Florida State Museum, Seagle Building, Gainesville, Florida. 82601 Published January 18, 1967 Price for this issue $.80 THE FISHES OF THE SANTA FE RIVER SYSTEM THOMAS R. HELLIER, JR.1 SYNOPSIS: This paper correlates the ·fish populations of the Santa Fe River with such physical aspects as its underground channel, substantial subterranean drain- age, and low ch16rinity. Recorded from the river and its tributaries are 60 species of fishes representing 21 families and 18 orders. Pertinent life history notes are given for many of the species, including one species nearly endemic to the river, Micropterus notius. The derivation 6f the. ichthyofauna is suggested; 25 species comprise an ele- ment widespread to the north, 18 to the southeast; 8 species are typically Florid- ian, and 8 species are from marine waters. Euryhaline species in the Santa Fe are generally restricted to the portion of the river downstream from the under- ground channel. A new term is proposed, dihaline, to describe those species that maintain breeding populations in both fresh and marine waters, TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 2 Descripti6n of the river 2 Description of the stations 6 Materials aBd methods 12 Annotated list of fishes 14 Discussi6n 80 General fish fauna 81 Derivation of the ichthyofauna 38 Literature cited 35 1 The work reported on here was submitted to the Graduate School, University of Florida, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science. - The author is now associated with the Department of Biology, Arlington State College, Arlington, Texas. Manuscript received 8 August 1965.-ED. Hellier, Thomas R., Jr. 1966. The Fishes of the Santa Fe River System. Bull. Florida State Mus., vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1-46. 2 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol 11 INTRODUCTION The Santa Fe River, one of the three major tributaries of the Suwannee, is unique in that it is the only river in Florida that leaves its surface channel and flows underground for a considerable distance before reappearing on the surface. The underground channel of the Santa Fe measures more than 2 miles in length, but can be tfaced with ease on aerial photographs which mark its subterranean course by a series of sink holes separated by intervening natural bYidges (Stubbs, 1941). Many other streams in the limest6ne regions of Florida disappear underground, but they either reappear within a few hundred yards, or do not return to the surface as the same stream. The long underground section of tha Santa Fe divides the river into two distinct portions and forms a possible barrier to up- stream migration of some fishes. Although a number of fish population surveys have been made in North America, none has dealt with a clear-water river like the Santa Fe, in which direct observations of the fishes can be made in the main channel. Furthermore, none ha5 been made on a river that is divided into two portions by a long subterranean channel. In the Southeast the fishes of only two rivers have been reported on with any degree of th6roughness. The Escambia in western Florida was the object of an investigation by Bailey, et al., (1954) and the St. Johns was studied over a 10-year period by MeLane (1955), Neither of these studies, however, were in places that afforded a consistent opportunity for direct observation of the fishes, or that presented a possible physical barrier to the ascent of marine invaders. The present paper with modifications was submitted as a masters thesis to the University of Florida in August, 1957. I wish to thank my advisory committee, John D. Kilby, Chairman, E. S. Ford, and J. N. Yount for guidance during the study. I am indebted to the many students and faculty who assisted in the field work and pro- vided advice, particularly David K. Caldwell and William L. Jen- nings. J. C. Briggs, and Clark Hubbs were especially helpful in suggesting revisions of the manuscript. My wife, Evelyn, provided encouragement and assistance, in all facets of the work. DESCRIFTION OF THE' RIVER The Santa Fe River drains the central portion of the upper pen- insula of Florida (Fig. 1). It arises in the northeast corner of Alachua County, Florida, from Lake Santa Fe, a typical, oligotrophic, sand- 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 3 hill lake bedded in sands of Pleistocene origin, From Lake Santa Fe the river follows the northern Alachua County line westward for approximately 40 miles to O'Leno State Park where it disappears underground through the Santa Fe Sink. The major tributaries of this section of the river are the New River, which forms the boundary between Bradford and Union Counties;, kind Olustee Creek, which separates. Union and Columbia Counties. The watershed area for the Santa Fe above Santa Fe Sink includes the northern portion of Alachua, all of Bradford and Union, southwestern Baker and south- eastern Columbia C6unties. This area is principally agricultural land and pine flatwoods underlain by the Miocene Hawthorne formation, whose imperviousness encourages drainage into the Santa Fe through small surface streams. The river itself after leaving Lake Santa Fe flows through Pleisto- cene sands, which lie on top of the Hawthorne formation, until it reaches a point just west of Station I (see Fig. 1). As might be ex- pected, the depth of the river in this section varies considerably with the amount of rainfall, and often during periods of dry weather no water flows in the river bed for several miles below Lake Santa Fe. The aquatic plants found in this part of the river are generally very sparse and consist principally of figwort (Hydrotrida caroliniana), spikerush (Eleocharis), water-purslane (Ludwigia), water-pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata), aquatic moss (Fontinalis), maidencane (Pan- icum hemitomon), and some floating filamentous algae. Several small streams collect rainwater from the surrounding flatwoods and empty into this portion of the Santa Fe; the water in them is generally more brownish than that of the Santa Fe proper and their emergent veg- etation is more extensive. Just downstream from Station I the Santa Fe cuts down into the Hawthorne as evidenced by outcroppings of this formation along the banks, particularly at the_ mouth of Olustee Creek. The character of the river changes considerably from this point on to the Santa Fe Sink. It becomes wider and slightly deeper with occasional rapids. The current in the main river channel increases, but more backwater reaches become evident and the aquatic plants change. Tape-grass (Vallisneria), naiad (Naias), muskgrass (Chara) and much attached filamentous algae dominate the areas with current, while cattail (Typha) and spatterdock (Nuphar) are found along the banks in areas of lessened flow. In the shallow rapids the rocks are covered with aquatic moss (Fontinalis), and some figwort (Hydrotrida caroliniana) grows in sandy patches between the rocks. The bottom of this por- 4 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 1 C O LO M B I A...A SUWANNEE | 0 LIKE CITY 1 i - LAKE BUTLERJ..4.-I IHETU"NEE SPRING UNION BRA 0 ~~1 i : 8 423 44.~ ~jLAFAYETTE : 7 i HIGH SPAINGS il i %..... GILCHRIST -/...."-'....'-4.... : A L A C ·-~Ob~ A \. i GAINESVILLE \1 / 0 O UCROSS CITY OTIENTOM I t LAKE ~CEIR KEY GULF SCALE OF 0 '0 THE SANTA FE RIVER AREA MILES of FLORI DA MEXICO Fig. 1.-The Santa Fe River area of Florida. The dotted line indicates the boundary of the drainage basin and the eight numbered circles show the locatiOns of the regular collecting stations. 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 5 tion of the river is still generally sand. The vegetation along the river from Lake Santa Fe to Santa Fe Sink is of a mixed river swamp and low hammock type with bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), willow (Salix longipes), river birch (Betula nigra), water oak (Quercus nigra), white bay (Magnolia virginiana), fiti (Cyrilla racemi#ora), black gum (Nyssa syloatica), and sweet gum (Liquidamber styraci#ua) as the dominant trees. Where the river cuts through sand bluffs the mixed river swamp and low hammock type vegetation along its banks is replaced by live oak (Quercus virginiana), slash pine (Pinus elli- ottii), and occasionally longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). The Santa Fe River east (upstream) of Santa Fe Sink will be referred to as the area "above the natural bridge." After disappearing into the sink, which penetrates the pervious Ocala Limestone of E6cene origin, the Santa Fe follows an under- ground course southwesterly for two miles and then reappears as a surface stream. Thereafter it follows the northern boundaries of Alachua and Gilchrist Counties as a surface stream for approximately 30 miles to enter the Suwannee River 9 miles southeast of the town of Branford, Florida. This confluence is about 70 miles upstream from the mouth of the Suwannee on the Gulf of Mexico. The Santa Fe west of (downstream from) the natural bridge re- ceives most of its drainage from a series of limestone springs. Some of the larger springs emptying into this part of the river are Poe and Lily Springs in Alachua County, Blue Springs in Gilchrist County, and Ichetucknee Springs in Columbia County. The run of Ichetuck- nee Springs receives the water of several smaller springs, and its average Row of 885 cubic feet per second is the third largest for springs in Florida (Ferguson, et al., 1947). The pervious Ocala Lime- stone that underlies this last section of the Santa Fe accounts for the large amount of subterranean drainage into the river. This portion of the Santa Fe receives very little surface drainage except during periods of heavy rain. The principal aquatic plants that occur here are: Tape-grass (Vallimeria), naiad (Nalas), muskgrass (Chara), water· purslane (Ludwigia), Sagittaria with narfow strapshaped leaves, aqua- tic moss (Fontinalis), -and filamentous algae. Coontail (Ceratophyl- lum demersum) is locally abundant in some of the larger springs and spring runs. The vegetation along the river on its western end is also of a mixed river swamp and low hammock type with the same species of trees dominating as listed before, with the addition of the overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) which occurs sporadically in several places. (The aquatic plants are after Eyles and Robertson (1944) and 6 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 the trees are after West and Arnold (1956). The above species of plants are referred to in the remainder of this paper by generic name only.) Downstream from the natural bridge the current is generally swift, the water clear except after heavy rains, and the bottom is usually of sand on rock or bare rock. The Santa Fe west of the natural bridge will be referred to as "below the natural bridge." Odum (1953) lists the Santa Fe as one of the rivers with the lowest chlorinity in Florida. The chloride content is ten parts per million or less both above and below the natural bridge. Tempera- tures are generally higher in the summer and lower in the winter above the natural bridge than those below it (Table 1), TABLE 1. AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURES FOR STATIONS ABOVE- AND BELOW THE NATURAL BRIDGE IN 'C Above Below Months Natural Bridge Natural Bridge January 20.5 22.0 February 17.5 20.5 April 22.0 22.0 May 25.() 25.0 June 27.0 25.5 July 26.5 25.0 August ' 29.0 25.0 September 28.0 24.0 O 1 toi,er 25.0 28.5 November 24.5 28.5 December 21.0 22.5 DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ~TATIONS The collecting stations shown on Figure 1 were selected to in- clude the major habitats occurring in the Santa Fe River. The reg- ular stations included locations above and below the natural bridge that were as nearly comparable to each other as possible. STATION 1. This station is at Cox Bridge where State Highway 241 crosses the Santa Fe. Here the river is a shallow, sand-bottom stream with a moderate current and sparse aquatic vegetation. Hydrotridn ~ and Eleocharis are the dominant plant genera and cover approxi- mately 10 per cent of the bottom in small mats. An aquatic moss Fontincilis covers some of the logs and stones in the river bed. These 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 7 three species are the principal submerged plants; the only emergent plant present in any significant amount is Ludwigia. The depth of the water varies considerably; no water was flowing in April 1956. but by July the river covered its flood plain at Cox Bridge to a depth of approximately 3 feet. Fig. 2-Station 1. Santa Fe River at Florida State Highway 241, The water is about two feet deep, slightly al}ove average for the period covered by this study. STATION 2. The Santa Fe River flows over a series of rapids iii O'Leno State Park. The last of these rapids, about 250 yards lip- stream from the Santa Fe Sink, was selected as Station 2. Here the rapids extend from bank to bank across the river, which is abcmt 12 yards wide. During the present study the depth at this station varied from a few inches to about 8 feet according to rainfall. The heariest rains and the deepest water occurred iii summer. The vegetation is principally of the submerged type; Na/as, Vallisneria and Chara occur in patches over the rapids, Fontinalis and several green algae grow on many of the submerged stones covering the bottom of the rapids. 8 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 STATION 3. In O'Leno State Park 20 yards downstream from Sta- tion 2, a slough about 20 yards wide extends approximately 50 yards northeasterly from the Santa Fe; its average depth is 2~ feet. Four major types of aquatic vegetation occur here. The bottom is nearly covered by large beds of Nalas and Chara interspersed with smaller patches of Vallisneria. The pleuston is made up of the duckweeds Lenina minor and Spirode/a pol!/rhiza, the aquatic fern Azolla caro- liniana, and small patches ot green algae, Spirogyra. The floating leafed Nuphar and the emergent Tupha occur around the margins of the slough. The bottom of the slough is fine silt on sand except di- rectly under the Nup/tar where moderate deposits of mud cover the rhizome systems of these plants. Fig. 3-Station 2. Santa Fe River at O'Leno State Park showing the rapids approximately 250 yards upstream from Santa Fe Sink. STATION 4. Santa Fe Sink is roughly circular in outline and about 70 yards in diameter. The depth, measured in the center iii March 1956, was 105 feet. The sides of the sink slope off very rapidly and the only aquatic plants present in any substantial quantities are the pleuston forms Lemna, Azolla, and Spirodela which, together with 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 9 Hoating logs, tree branches, leaves and other debris, usually cover the sink's entire surface. Fig. 4-Station 8. Slough on the Santa Fe River at O'Leno State Park abotit 200 yards upstream from Santa Fe Sink. The water depth is approximately three feet at the boat in the slough, STAnoN 5. This station is &2 mile upstream from Duncan's Landing, Columbia County, at the mouth of a small unnamed spring on the north bank of the river. The bottom is sand and the only vegetation is a submerged moss, Fontinalis, attached to the few logs present. The spring and its short run have large beds of Najas and Ludwigia along the banks. STATION 6. Station 6 is on the north bank of the Santa Fe River at Duncan's Landing, which is 21/6 miles upstream from the confluence of the Ichetucknee and the Santa Fe. The current is much reduced by a curve in the river and by a rock outcrop from which two springs flow. The bottom is silt on sand with an occasional spot of silt on rock . The plants consist of large beds of Naias, Chara and Vallisne- ria. Lenina and Spirog!/ra occur in small quantities and Ludleigia grows close to and on the bank. The rocks just below the station are 10 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 *r Fig. 5-Station 4. Santa Fe Sink at O'Leno State· Park. The material cov- ering the surface is principally Lemna and assorted debris, Fig. 6-Station 5. North bank of the Santa Fe River 8 miles upstream froin the confluence of the river and Ichetucknee Spring Run. A small unnamed spring run is visible on the left. 1967 lIELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANT.A FE 11 covered with Fontinalis and filamentous algae. Some Ceratophyl- lum is attached to the rocks in the direct flow of the springs. The depth of the water varies from about 5 feet on the river side to a few inches at the shore. Fig. 7-Station 6. Duncan's Landing on the Santa Fe River 245 miles up- stream from the mouth of Idietucknee' Spring Run. A spring may be seen roiling the surface of the water. STATION 7. Downstream 80 yards from Duncan's Landing is a small, nearly round depression in the river bed near the north bank of the river. About 10 yards in diameter, the depression slopes off rapidly to a depth of approximately 542 feet. Here current is insignificantt and the only vegetation is Vallisneria along the upstream edge of the hole. The bottom and sides of this station are rock, except where the depression fs open to the river on the south side. Quantities of dead plant debris float on the surface of this area. STATION 8. This station is at a broad stretch of rapids 1% miles above the mouth of the Ichetucknee. Throughout the study water covered these rapids to an average depth of from 2 to 21,4 feet. The bottom is rock with patches of sand in the depressions. Many 12 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol 11 large beds of Na/as, Sagittaria and Vallisneria occur throughout the rapids. Small patches of Fontinalis grow on some of the submerged stones and green, non-filamentous algae cover most of the remaining rocks. Fig. 8--Station 7. A hole in the river bed just downstream from I)zincan's Landing on the Santa Fe River. OTHER STATIONS. Many collections were made at other widely spaced localities in the Santa Fe and its tributaries, but as these places were not visited regularly, they are not numbered. Except those along small, fiatwoods streams and in one pond, these other sites generally resembled one of the numbered stations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collections were made monthly at the eight regular stations and at many other sites along the Santa Fe including representative habi- tats throughout the drainage basin. Active field work was conducted from June until October 1955, and from January 1956 through Jan- uary 1957. Most collections were made with either a 15-foot knit seine with 44-inch mesh on a 4-foot drop and with a 4-foot bag in the center, 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF 'rl IE SANTA FE 18 or with an 8-foot common-sense seine also with 44-inch mesh and a 4-foot drop. Other types of collecting gear occasionally used in- cluded gill nets, wire traps, trotlines, hook and line, poison, spears, and explosives. Underwater observations were made with a face mask and scuba gear. Fig. 9.-Station 8. A broad exposure of rapids in the Santa Fe River one and one-half miles upstream from the junction of Iclietucknee Spring Run with the Santa Fe. The water deptli at the boat is approximately 18 inches, All specimens were preserved in the field iii 10 per cent formalin, transferred in the laboratory to 85 per cent isopropanol, and are deposited in the University of Florida collections. Measurements were taken in a straight line to the nearest millimeter, and all length measurements given are standard lengths. Water samples were analyzed for chlorinity iii the laboratory by the Mohr method of silver nitrate titration. 14 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 ANNOTATED LIST OF FISHES The following list of fishes from the Santa Fe River, Florida, en- compasses 18 orders, 21 families and 60 species. Tables 4,5, and 6 are a part of this list, and much of the data, such as specific catches by months and by major habitats both above and below the natural bridge, have been consolidated in the tables for ease of reference and ,to free the annotated list of these details. The sequence of spe- cies and the scientific and common specific names' follow ~ Bailey et al. (1960). 1. Acipenser oxyrhynchus desotoi Vladykov. In the Bsh collec- tions of the University of Florida is a specimen of the southern sea sturgeon taken from the Santa Fe River at High Springs. No indi- viduals of this species were seen or caught during the study. 2. Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus). The longnose gar was the largest fish found in the river 5ystem. One specimen was collected beiow the natural bridge in July, and three above it-one each in July, September, and October. Single individuals of this species were observed below the natural bridge on nine occasions in April, May, and July. Invariably they were seen in midstream 1 to 8 feet below the surface. One specimen 54 mm long was collected in July 1955 and one gravid female of 1,016 mm was taken in July 1956. 8. Lepisosteus platurhincus DeKay. The Florida spotted gar is the most abundant gar in peninsular Florida. It occurs in all major freshwater and some brackish habitats, but populations are heaviest in still waters with an abundance of submerged aquatic plants and a rich food supply of small fish (McLane, 1955). Although plentiful in Florida, only 8 individuals were observed in the Santa Fe during the study. Two of these were above the natural bridge in Septem- ber and one below in July. 4. Amia calua Linnaeus. The bowfin is a widespread but sel- dom abundant fish of quiet waters, especially those with shallows, some cover, and a silty bottom. Places that meet these requirements are more plentiful above than below the natural bridge and, as ex- pacted, more individuals were seen above (8) than below it (1). 5. Alosa alabamae Jordan and Evermann. The only specimens of this anadromous species found in the Santa Fe were 4 collected at Station 8 in October 1956, which represent a range extension for the species (Berry, 1964). John D. Kilby and J. C. Dickinson, Jr. 1967 HEELIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 15 (personal communication) collected several dozen Alabama shad from the Santa Fe near Station 8 also in October 1956, but unfor- tunately the specimens were lost. Thus the species may be locally abundant in the Santa Fe at certain times. 6. Umbra pygmaea (DeKay). McLane (1955: 68) records two eastern mudminnows in the University of Florida collections taken in the Santa Fe drainage at Ocean Pond near Olustee, Baker County. The Species is rare in Florida, and none were taken during the pres-. ent study. 7. Esox americanus Gmelin. During the study two redfin pick- erel were taken above the natural bridge in small, acid tributaries of the Santa Fe. One of these caught in September was a 175 mm female containing ripe ova. 8. Esox niger Lesueur. The only chain pickerel taken was a 58 mm individual caught in April 1956 at Station 1. 9. Hybopsis harperi (F6wler). The redeye chub is the most abundant vertebrate inhabitant of subterranean waters in Florida and occurs most frequently in springs and their surface runs. Second only to Lucania goodei in numbers collected below the natural bridge (1,082 specimens), we collected none above it. The fact that the lower river is fed principally by subterranean streams and the upper portion principally by surface drainage may explain this distribu- tibn. It is significant that 89.6 per cent of the Bsh were taken at Station 7 where a large spring enters the river and another 29.8 per cent from springs or spring runs. Gravid females were caught in January, February, May, June and July. The only specimen under 25 mm collected was a 20 mm fish taken in February. 10. Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchill). We took 425 golden shiners above the natural bridge and only 9 below it. Though we found them throughout the year and in all habitats examined, 94.8 - per cent of the specimens came from under patches of floating Nuphar at Station 8. We collected few fingerling or smaller indi- viduals, but took one gravid female of 165 mm in June 1956. 11. Notropis chalybaeus (Cope). As McLane (1955) emphasizes, the ironcolored shiner occurs most regularly in small hammock streams that drain pine flatwoods. In the Santa Fe the species is not abundant. All but 2 of the 80 specimens collected were from small flatwoods streams tributary to the river above the natural 16 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 bridge, and all were found in association with aquatic vegetation. Males with breeding tubercles were taken in June and July, well within the mid-April to early September breeding season Marshall (1947) reports for the species in Alachua County. 12. Notropis h!/pselopterus (Gunther). Over 99 per cent of the 128 sailfin shiners collected were from the headwaters of the Santa Fe where the river has many of the characteristics of a fiatwoods stream, including much sandy bottom and a moderate current. Here a collection in September 1955 yielded 65 specimens at a p6int where the river is almost cbmpletely shaded by the hammock type vegeta- tion along the bank. We collected only one specimen below the natural bridge, but in the University of Florida fish collections are - several from springs tributary to this part of the river. Collectiohs from July and September contained tuberculate males and gravid females. The single specimen eollected in August was a tuberculate male of 39 mm. No sailfin shiners were collected from October through June. - 13. Notropis maculatus (Hay). I found the .red minnow only above the natural bridge and took all the 15 specimens from unveg- etated sandy or silty bottomed still water habitats. No One collec- tion contained more than a few individuals; sizes ranged from a minimum of 23 mm in September to a maximum of 45 mm in July, and gravid females were noted in July and in September. 14. Notropis petersoni Fowler. The coastal shiner is by far the most widespread cyprinid in the Santa Fe, occurring in ali types of habitats above and below the natural bridge. This species was most abundant at Station 7 (28.7 per cent) where it occurred in close as- sociation with aquatic vegetation. Observations made with scuba gear indicate that it also occurs commonly in midstream around patches of Naias, Vallisneria, and Chara as well as over small sandy areas in water up to 20 feet deep. We found this cyprinid frequently in association with Hybopsis harperi and the two species are very difficult to distinguish in the field. Tuberculate males and gravid females collected in all months except March, June,. and October in- dicate year-round spawning in the Santa Fe. 15. Opsopoeodus emiliae Hay. The pugnose minnow is prin- cipally a fish of the still shallows and it occurred both above and below the natural bridge. One collection made in July and two in Audust from backwaters above the natural bridge contained a total 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 17 of 60 specimens ranging-from 25 to 41 mm, and all contained gravid females. In the University of Florida fish collections are 4 individ- uals taken below the natural bridge at Poe Springs. 16. Erimyzon sucetta (Lacepede). All but one of the 17 chub- suckers taken, 15 above the natural bridge and 2 below it, were caught at stations having submerged or emergent vegetation. Sizes ranged from a 22 mm individual caught in July to one of 165 mm taken in June. 17. Minytrema melanops (Raftnesque). The spotted sucker seems to be more of an open water form than E. sucetta, and the Suwannee River drainage is its eastern limit in Florida (Carr and Coin, 1955). We saw 7, lin January, 8 in July, and 8 in December, drifting or swimming along the bottom of the river channel at depths up to 15 feet, and collected 8 specimens above the natural bridge and 5 below it. Two taken in Ichetucknee Spring Run during April 1956 were large males (420 and 880 mm) with breeding tubercles on the snout and anal fins. One individual of 88 mm was caught in the river one-half mile north of Louise, Alachua County, in July 1955. 18. Ictalurus catus (Linnaeus). Seventeen white catfish were caught on trotlines, 2 below and 15 above the natural bridge; 14 of the latter were taken at Station 4, which furnishes perhaps the best catfish habitat in the Santa Fe. Catfish living in this sink have only to wait for food to be washed downstream to them. Gravid females were collected in June and February. McLane (1955) found young in the St. Johns River during May, June, October, and December which indicates a prolonged breeding season for the species. Our largest catfish from the Santa Fe was 522 mm long and weighed approximately 6 pounds. 19. Ictalurus natalia (Lesueur). I. natalis was taken principally in the same type of habitat as I. nebulosus. However, more yellow cats were caught in small tributary streams (88 per cent) than were bullheads (14 per cent). Our 29 specimens ranged from 16 mm long in September to 156 mm in August. 20. Ictalurus nebulosus marmoratus (Lesueur). We found the brown bullhead principally in heavily vegetated areas and around debris. I saw this catfish several times lying under large beds of Vallisneria and the masses of debris on the upstream side of tree trunks in the river. The four specimens we caught on trotlines in midstream 18 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM VoI. 11 over a sand bottom at night show that I. nebulosus leaves its con- cealment to forage after dark. 21. Ictalurus punctatus (RaBnesque). Although no channel cat was taken or observed during the present study, Coleman J. Coin informs me that he has caught this species in the Santa Fe River. The University of. Florida collections have specimens from Fannin Springs on the Suwannee, but none from the Santa Fe. - 22. Ictalurus sp. This is an undescribed species to be named elsewhere by Yerger and Relyea. Yerger (personal communication) states that it is more closely related to Ictalurus catus than to the flatheads L plat!/cephalus and I. brunneus. We caught 27 specimens below the natural bridge ranging in size from 86 mm in December to 155 mm in April. We took none ab6ve the natural bridge. 28. Notums gyrinus Mitchill. The tadpole madtom is the most common representative of, its family in the Santa Fe, occurring in practically every major habitat above and below the natural bridge. However, it is most plentiful inside large beds of Naias along the margins of the river below the natural bridge. We collected gravid females in all months except January, March, May, October, and November and found «individuals under 15 mm long in April, June, August, and September. Each of 70 specimens examined was para- sitized by Acanthocephala. The largest specimen caught was a heavily parasitized female 79 mm long. 24. Noturus leptacanthus (Jordan). The speckled madtom' is re- stricted almost entirely to streams having appreciable currents, some sandy or rocky bottom, and cover in the form of rocks, logs, or other debris. Relatively common in some parts of the Santa Fe, of 182 specimens collected, 75.8 per cent were from the rapids at Stations 2 and 8. Gravid females were found in April, June, July, August, and September. Specimens under 20 mm were collected in August and September; no specimens were taken in March or May. Of 50 fish examined, 82 had Acanthocephala parasites. 25. Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur). I caught one specimen of this well known catadromous eel above the natural bridge and 12 be- low it. The smallest was one 122 mm long taken in December. The digestive tracts showed erayfish, remains in all specimens collected. 26. Strongglura marina. (Walbaum). The needlefish maintains breeding populations both in coastal marine and in the fresh waters 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 19 of Florida, and is thus completely euryhaline. It is a surface form usually found Where little or no current flows, but in spring runs and in some rivers it feeds actively over bars where currents are sometimes swift. Found only below· the natural bridge, needlefish were seen most often swimming at the surface in small schools of up to 8 or 10 individuals. Only 8 specimens were collected. One was taken at dusk in a common sense seine over a bed of Vallisneria, and two were taken at night in a 15-foot bag seine close to the springs at Station 6. Sight records indicate the species is more abundant in the Santa Fe during the spring and summer than at other seasons. 27, Fundulus chr!/sotus (Gunther). One golden topminnow was collected below the natural bridge and 54 above it. Fish in breed- ing condition were found in July, August and September. 28. Fundulus cingulatus Valenciennes. Four collections, one in June, two in August, and one in September, all from above the natural bridge, contained a total of 85 banded topminnows. These fish were found on the surface in shallow marginal water over a sandy bottom and in~ close association with emergent vegetation. August and September collections contained adults in breeding con- dition. 29. Fundulus notti (Agassiz). Except f6r its occurrence in quiet waters of calcareous streams, this species is practically restricted to clear sandhill lakes. Six of the collections above the natural bridge yielded a total of 22 specimens, and two collections below it one specimen each. As elsewhere the starhead topminnow in the Santa Fe is a surface water form. When pursued with nets it sometimes retreats into stands of emergent vegetation, but I have never seen it seek the protection of deep water. The largest and smallest speci- mens taken were both from July collections, and measured 74,and 16 mm respectively. Gravid females were found June and July. 80. Fundulus seminolis Girard. The seminole killifish we found only below the natural bridge, where 188 specimens were collected. Sizes ranged from 18 to 122 mm. The most common habitat of this species in the river was over sandy bottom around patches.of vege- tation, principally Vallisneria and Naias. Unlike most other species of Fundulus, this killifish was' never seen on the surface for any length of time, but usually from near the bottom up to half way to the surface. Again unlike most. other fresh water Fundulus in Florida, 20 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 F. seminolis frequently occurs in loosely organized schools of from 80 to 40 individuals, particularly in the spring and early summer. Gravid females . were taken in April only. Ova examined in one female varied from approximately 0.75 to 2.0 mm in diameter. Of 50 specimens examined, 45 were found parasitized by Acanthoceph- ala. 81. Jordanella Boridae Goode and Bean. .The flagBsh is most abundant in Florida in roadside ditches and in similar natural. situ- ations. I collected a single specimen 22 mm long in June 1955 from shallow water over a sandy bottom below the natural bridge. 82. Leptolucania ominata (Jordan). The pygmy killifish inhabits shallow, quiet waters sufficiently vegetated to provide either surface or bottom cover. I took 8 of these fish from· the Santa Fe, all from one small flatwoods stream near the headwaters. The fish were near the bank in shallows with Hydrotrida, Ludwigia, and Sphagnum on the bottom. Three gravid females were found in a July collection and the smallest individual (13 mm) was taken in September. 38. Lucania goodei Jordan. The bluefin killifish was by far the most common cyprinidontid encountered, with 560 specimens collected above the natural bridge and. 1,843 below it. Although found in every habitat, it occurred most frequently in and around beds of Naias, Chara, and Vallisneria. These fish, together with Syngnathus scovelli and Noturus gyrinus, were often found deep in the center of the beds of vegetation. Females with ripe ova were taken in every month and fish under 20 mm in all months except January and May. One specimen collected in April was heavily parasitized by metacercaria of the fluke Clinostomum marginatum. 84. Gambusia a#inis holbrooki Girard. The mosquitofsh was one of the more abundant fish in the river with 966 specimens collected above and 400 below the natural bridge. A shallow-water, marginal dweller found generally in association with emergent vegetation and Blamentous algae, the species may also be found in small tributary streams, springs, and flood plain ponds where it is often very numer- ous. One such small pond when poisoned yielded only G. a#inis holbrooki, Elassoma zonatum and Heterandria formosa. Females containing eyed embryos were collected in every month, but a much lower percentage of these ripe females was found from November through February than during the rest of the year. A large disparity 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 21 occurs in the sex rati6 of this species in the Santa Fe; of 500 indi-< viduals examined 78.6 per cent were females. 35. Heterandria formosa Agassiz. The . least killifish is rather widely distributed in the Santa Fe; 97 specimens were taken below and 177 above the natural bridge. It not only occupies the same type of habitat as Gambusia a#inis holbrooki but its breeding season is also Similar. The largest specimen collected was a female 80 mm long. 36. Moilienesia latipinna Lesueur. The sailfin mollie is eury- haline in Florida and has breeding populations in coastal, estuarine, and strictly fresh waters far inland. Maximum populations occur in shallow, marginal situations, especially those with vegetative cover or other type of protection from predation. In the Santa Fe, it is a shallow water, marginal form found almost exclusively in small- backwaters with little or no current, some filamentous algae and small amounts of Lemna on the surface, and a bottom of sand or rock overiain by silt. We collected 721 specimens below the natural bridge and none above it. Mollies have a prolonged breeding season. Ova were present in February specimens and females containing eyed embryos were found from April through September. No March collections contained Mollienesia. A disproportionate sex ratio ex- isted; of 709 specimens examined 72.2 per cent were females. Al- though these fish were normally found near or at the surface, they invariably ~ retreated toward the bottom when disturbed. 87. Syngnathus scovelli (Evermann and Kendall). The gulf pipe- fish is another of the few completely euryhaline fishes in Florida, maintaining breeding populations in strictly fresh water as well as in the highly saline waters along the coast. In fresh waters it is usually found in the densely vegetated littoral zone of clear streams and rivers. We collected no pipefish above the natural bridge, but took 108 below it in heavy beds of vegetation, principally Naicis, along the margins of the river and in the spring runs. Gravid females oc- curred in samples from every month except March, June, October, and December. Males with embryos in the brood pouch were taken from April through September and in January and February. A count of the embryos in the pouches of 19 males gave an average of 12.2 per pouch, which seems abnormally low. McLane (1955) re- ported an average of 29.5 per pouch in 66 males from the St. Johns River, and 44.7 per pouch in 48 males from Cedar Key, Florida. 22 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 S. scovelli prObably breeds throughout the year in the Santa Fe River as it does in the St. Johns: 88. Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams). Pirate perch were well dis- tributed and associated with aquatic vegetation of all types. In October 1956 we collected 58 specimens with poison over a clean sand bottom at Station 8; the fish were in a hole approximately 85 feet deep and relatively free of current. During some seven hours of underwater Observations at all seasons in this hole with scuba gear no Aphredoderus were seen; possibly they were hidden in small concavities and crevices along the sheer rock walls of the hole. Very few pirate perch were collected with seines anywhere, but poisoning the same areas with rotenone often produced large num- bers. These fish, together with Noturus gyrinus, Noturus leptacan- thus, and the gars, ware the·last species the poison affected. Females with ripe eggs were found in February, April, and December. The length-frequency data in Table 2 indicate a late winter breeding sea- son. Over 95 per cent of the fish examined were heavily parasitized by Acanthocephala; 14 specimens also had small leeches attached to the membranes of the caudal and dorsal fins. 39. Centrarchus macropterus (Lacepede). I collected one flier 64 mm in length in September 1956, from the Santa Fe north of Louise, Alachua County. The river at this point resembles a small flatwoods stream with a sand bottom and moderate current. An- other Santa Fe specimen in the University of Florida collections was taken approximately 2 miles upstream from Louise. 40. Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier). The warmouth was most abundant above the natural bridge where 50 of the 56 specimens were collected, ranging in length from 16 mm to 140 mm, both taken in August. The habitat preference of Chaenobryttus is mark- edly restricted in the Santa Fe; 92.8 per cent of the specimens were taken from heavily vegetated still waters over either a mud or silt bottom. One collection containing 20 specimens was taken from a small flood plain pond 4 by 5 yards in extent and 2 feet deep next to the river at Worthington Springs, Union County. This pond was completely devoid of vegetation, and had a mud bottom. Judging from the surrounding terrain it is flooded periodically, which might account for the presence of warmouth. 41. Elassoma evergladei Jordan. In the University of Florida cellections are seven specimens of the Everglades pygmy sunfish 1967 H E LLIE R : FIS H E S O F T H E S A N TA FE 28 TABLE 2. LENGTH-FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF 272 Aphredoderlis Savanus FROM THE SANTA FE RIVER Size Groups Jan Feb April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov I)ec (in mm) 11-15 2 16-20 1 21-25 1 26-30 1 1 2 1 81-35 2 2 3 1 86-40 1 1 8 1 12 4 1 41-45 3 1 2 2 2 15 4 2 4 46-50 4 1 1 22 15 10 51-55 21 1 111512715 56-60 2 9 5 8 11 61-65 8 1 45 5 66-70 2 1 5626 71-75 1 1 4 76-80 · 2 81-85 96-90 1 Totals 7 9 6 5 8 19 10 88 58 19 58 24 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 taken in Hatchet Creek, 10 miles north of Gainesville and 9 miles west of Waldo, and one taken in the Santa Fe 7 miles northwest of Waldo by Carter R. Gilbert in November 1961. I did not find the species during my study. 42. Elassoma okefenokee Bohlke. Bohlke (1956) states this spe- cies lives under overhanging plants in slow-moving, acid streams, in essentially the same habitat as Leptolucania ommata. Of 66 fish collected, 32 were from heavily vegetated areas in slow-moving trib- utary streams and 33 were collected at Station 3. Only one specimen was taken below the natural bridge. The Okefenokee pygmy sun- fish was collected only in March, July, September, and November. The smallest fish (10 mm) was taken in September, the largest (24 mm) in November. Gravid females were found in July. 48. Elassoma zonatum Jordan. Most of the banded pygmy sun- Bsh (77.8 per cent) were collected from heavily vegefated areas be- low the natural bridge. These fish were usually found in beds of Vallisneria, Naias, and Chara, occasionally in patches of Ludwigia. The specimens ranged in length from 29 mm,in November to 15 mm in July. Females with fully developed ova were takdn. in February and April. Of the 45 fish collected, 25 had approximately 20 Acan- thocephala in the coelomic cavity per fish. 44. Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook). All the 172 specimens collected were from above the natural bridge. The smallest indi- vidual was 14 mm long, taken in July, and the largest 51 mm, was caught in September. We collected 57 specimens in a vegetation- free flood plain pond with mud bottom near Worthington Springs. Gravid females were found in August and September. 45. Enneacanthus obesus (Girard). The University of Florida collections have one specimen of the banded sunfish Carter R. Gilbert collected in Hatchet Creek 10 miles north of Gainesville and 9 miles west of Waldo in April 1961. I did not find the species during my study. 46. Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus). The redbreast is by far the commonest centrarchid in the Santa Fe. Although we found it in all types of habitats, it was most abundant in sand bottom creeks (41.5 per cent) and in heayily vegetated sloughs (87.4 per cent). The young preferred shallow vegetated zones in still water but were also found in heavily vegetated tributary streams. Gravid females 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 25 were collected in April, June, and July. From June through Janu- ary we took 59 specimens under 20 min, 51 of them in June, July, and August. Redbreasts were seen guarding redds in April. Though this fish has a prolonged spawning season in the Santa Fe, a pro- nounced breeding peak occurs in late spring. and early summer. 47. Lepomis macrochirus purpurescens Cope. The young and adult bluegills show decided differences in habitat preference ·in the Santa Fe. Young specimens under 50 mm were taken principally in heavily vegetated still waters. Large individuals were collected and observed in more open waters. Seven adult bluegills were taken at Station 8 in July, and one collection in August made by dynamiting under a large fallen tree yielded 10 adult specimens. The presence of fish under 20 mm in collections from July and Novembef indicates a prolonged breeding season. The largest specimen was taken in July and measured 168 mm. 48. Lepomis marginatus (Holbrook). Carter R. Gilbert collected 24 dollar sunfish in the Santa Fe 7 miles northwest of Waldo and 2 in Hatcliet Creek 9 miles west of Waldo in November 1961. I did not take the species during my study. 49. Lepomis microlophus (Gunther). The redear sunfish is pri- marily a fish of the open waters of larger rivers, springs and lakes. The 244 specimens collected, 211 from above and 88 from below the natural bridge, ranged in size from 16 mm in June, July and Novem- ber to 220 mm in December. The relative numbers of fish caught above and below the natural bridge may be misleading because 163 were taken in five unusually large collections at Station 8. Under- water observations below the natural bridge showed redear sunfish much more plentiful than the 88 fish collected there would indicate. Adult redears are by far the most common sunfish in the deeper, unvegetated areas at midstream, so numerous in fact that it was im- possible t6 keep exact records of them while swimming downstream on prolonged observations. Short samplings made by swimming across the river and back gave some definite figures on redear abundance; in each of three such short trips at Station 7 in July, November, and April, we counted no less than two and as many as seven large red- ear sunfish near the middle of the river. These large fish are diffi- cult to collect. When we tried to spear some with an underwater gun, they pr6ved so wary of the diver that we took only one' speci- men in this manner. Young redears were found most frequently in 26 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 vegetated shallow waters and were relatively easy to collect with a seine. McLane (1955) reports the peak spawning season fof the St, Johns is in June and July. The 16 mm specimens in our collections from June, July, and November suggest some spawning probably occurs earlier and later in the Santa Fe. 50. Lepomis punctatus punctatus (Valencienne©. This was the only member of its genus collected in greater numbers below (283) than above (123) the natural bridge. We found the spotted sunfish in all types of habitats in the Santa Fe, but it was most abundant in some of the deep holes below the natural bridge, where 42 per cent of the specimens were collected. Fishing with a hook and line with bread for bait at Blue Springs, Gilchrist County, in January 1956, I caught both bluegills and spotted sunfish on the sandy bottom of the boil area, but when I threw my hook over the edge of the rock crevice from which. the spring issues, I caught only spotted sunfish. The spotted sunfish was also common in and around dense beds of aquatic vegetation at Stations 3 and 4 (41.4 per cent). No large num- bers of small L. punctatus were ever taken- in a single collection, as often happened with other sunfish. Carr (1947) found that small spotted sunfish tend to disperse soon after leaving the redd. Females with ripe ova were collected in February and from April through September. Caldwell et al. (1957) report that this species breeds throughout the year in Silver Springs, Marion County, Florida. Specimens under 20 mm in length were collected in June, August, and September, the smallest (14 mm) in August. The largest speci- men was one measuring 232 mm taken in June. 51. Micropterus notius Bailey and Hubbs. The Suwannee bass, a relict form in northern Florida, is the most generalized species in the genus Micropterus (Bailey and Hubbs, 1949). Known only from swift-flowing rivers in Florida, it is represented by- relatively few specimens in collections. During this study we collected 228 speci- mens and observed several hundred others during diving operations. Although we took M. notius and M. salmoides #oridanus regularly in the same seine hauls, the two species occurred most frequently in distinctly different habitats. Underwater observations and our catch- es in the Santa Fe showed M. notius to be essentially a fish of rapid waters and M. salmoides Boridanus one of quieter reaches. In rapids we caught 21 per cent of the total number of M. notius and only 1.2 per cent of M. salmoides Boridanus. Above the natural TABLE 3. LENGTH-FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF 228 Micropterus notius FROM THE SANTA FE RIVER 1967 H E LLIE R : FIS H E S O F T H E S A N TA FE Size Groups Jan Feb Mar April June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec (in mm) 10-19 4 20-29 8 5 1 80-89 1 10 17 6 4 40-49 2 14 7 8 1 2 50-59 . 4 2 5 15 10 14 60-69 1 2 8 1 2 4 5 8 70-79 1 2 2 2 1 2 4 80-89 .1 2 1 90-99 2 1 2 100-109 2 1 110-119 1 1 120-129 1 1 2 130-139 1 12 140-149 2 2 150-159 1 1 160-169 1 1 170-17.9 1 180-189 190-199 200-209 1 210-219 8 1 2 220-229 2 1 - 280-289 1 1 Totals. 10 6 2 11 25 44 19 27 29 20 80 5 28 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 bridge where rapids are not a dominant feature, only 58. M. notius were present in catches that produced 384 M. salmoides Bolidanus. Below the natural bridge where rapids and swift channels occur fre- quently, the ratio was 164 notius to 107 salmoides. The length-fre- quency· data in Table 3 strongly indicate a spring spawning season. In April 1956 one individual was observed guarding a redd con- structed on a clear sand bottom in approximately 2 feet of water. The redd itself was indistinguishable from those constructed by M. salmoides #oridanus. 52. Micropterus salmoides floridanus (Lesueur). This bass and M. notius are the most common large predatory fish in the Santa Fe. Adult largemouth bass occur in every major habitat but are most abundant where submerged trees and other debris provide cover. Bass were found in every series of 6bservations we made, at all depths and in currents ' of every magnitude in the river. Small in- dividuals were most often collected and observed in sand bottom shallows and in sparse patches of Ludwigia, Vallisneria, Naias, and Chara. Specimens under 25 mm were taken from April through Au- gust and one gravid female 208 mm long, was collected in April. Bass were observed guarding redds in April and June at Station 1 and immediately upstream from Station 2. Carr (1942) describes the construction of redds for this species. The ones observed in this study were on a clear sand bottom free of vegetation in 2 to 8 feet of water. 58. Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Lesueur). Black crappie are not common in the Santa Fe. Six specimens taken above the natural bridge were the only ones seen. 54. Etheostoma edwini (Hubbs and Cannon). This darter, as its describers (1985) note, frequents swift, clear, vegetated streams. Of the 54 brown darters we collected, 42 per cent were from rapids. We took 68.5 per cent of the total below the natural bridge, where the most suitable habitat exists. As females with ripe ova were taken in January, February, April, June, July, September, and De- cember, these fish evidently breed throughout the year in the Santa Fe. 55. Etheostoma fusiforme barratti (Holbrook). The 38 swamp darters we collected, 29 above and 9 below the natural bridge, ranged in size from 48 mm in July to 26 mm in August. No collections con- 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 29 taining this species were made- in January, May, or October. Adults with breeding tubercles and ripe gonads were collected in February and March. Of the 88 fish examined 9 contained Acanthocephala in the coelomic cavity. 56. Percina nigrofasciata (Agassiz). Although we collected 82 blackbanded darters above and 9 below the natural bridge, the rel- ative numbers are not at all indicative of the species actual abun- dance, as its major habitat below the natural bridge precludes sue- cessful collecting. Principally b6ttom dwellers, these fish may be seen plentifully in the current of the main river bed resting on the bottom behind rocks and pieces of debris. We counted approximately 50 individuals while swimming once acrosi the river and back at Station 6 in July. Every longer sampling showed these darters plentiful in their favored habitat. Above the natural bridge we found the species principally in the shallow rapids at Station 2 (26.4 per cent) and on the sand bottom in the main current at Station 1 (88.0 per cent). The smallest specimen (24 mm) was collected in April and the largest (78 mm) in September. Adults in breeding condition were found in February and April and from July through October. No collections made in January, March, May, November, or December contained Pereina. 57. Eucinostomus sp. David K. Caldwell and I saw several mojarras in April and May at Station 6. As our attempts to collect these fish were unsuccessful, no positive identification could be made. McLane (1955), Carr and Coin (1955), and Herald and Strickland (1949) list Eucinostomus argenteus Baird and Girard as occurring in Florida fresh water rivers, and most probably the fish we saw were of this species. 58. Mugil cephalus Linnaeus. Although the striped mullet is prin- cipally a Bsh of marine lagoons, estuaries, and other coastal shal- lows, it frequently invades fresh waters. Many mullet were observed below the natural bridge in all months except September, October, and November; no mullet were taken or seen above it. These ma- rine invaders may be present throughout the year, but they do not become plentiful until early winter. They were common in the river from Febfuary through August. Local fisherman catch large num- bers on hook and line using small wads of Spirogyra or earthworms for bail. No small specimens were taken or seen duri#g this study, and the adults collected showed little gonadal development. 80 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 59. Labidesthes sicculusuanhyningi Bean and Reid. The brook silversides is distinctly a surface form, and often occurs in small schools. We found it very abundant above the natural bridge at Stations 1 and 8 (76.9 per cent of the 8sh collected) and less so in the small tributary streams (7.9 per cent of the total). It was not very common below the natural bridge, but could be found there in springs and a few other places where the current was weak. Over 95 per cent of the specimens were collected from areas of very slowly flowing or still water. The species has an extended breeding season in the Santa Fe. Females with ripe gonads were taken from February through April and from June through September; no specimens were collected in May. The smallest specimen collected was one of 12 mm in June 1956. No other individuals under 20 mm wefe collected. 60. Trinectes maculatus (Bloch and Schneider). We collected 148 hogchokers on clean sandy bottom below the natural bridge and found none above it. Our fish ranged in length from 22 mm in May to 65 mm in July. We collected specimens under 25 mm in April, May, July, and November. We noted no gonadal development in any of our specimens, and it is improbable that this Bsh spawns in the Santa Fe. Mansueti and Pauly (1956) give 111 mm standard length as the minimum size of sexually mature individuals in the Patuxent River, Maryland. DISCUSSION The Bsh fauna of the Santa Fe is a diversified one characterized by a large number of species of wide ecological differences. How- ever, the bulk of this fauna is made up of relatively few species well adapted to the principal types of habitat available in the river, re- fiecting the fact that a few habitats are quite extensive while many others are restricted in extent. Several maline species occur in the Santa Fe, where two of them maintain breeding populations. In view of the extremely low salini- ties (10 parts per million maximum) and the distance from the Gulf of Mexico (approximately 70 miles), this marine invasion of euryha- line fish fs remarkable. The natural bridge is a more effective barrier to upstream mi- gration than to downstream. Many fish, fry, and eggs may be car- ried under it by the current, but any upstream migration through the underground channel must be active, not passive. 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 81 GENERAL FISH FAUNA The fish fauna of the Santa Fe may be divided into three major groups on the basis of distribution above and below the natural bridge. The Brst and largest of these three groups is the one including those fshes that occur both above and below the natural bridge. The species in this group fnay be further subdivided into those that are principally stream forms, those that are found most often in still water, and those that can adapt to either situation. Generally the stream forms are found wherever the current is a significant feature. Those that occur most often in streams are Lepisostelm osseus, Ming- trema melanops, Noturus leptacanthus, Lepomis auritus, Lepomis punctatus punctatus, Micropterus notius, Etheostoma edwini, and Percina nigrofasciata. Notropis hypselopterus, Leptolucania ommata. Elassoma okefeno- kee, Elassoma zonatum and Enneacanthus gloriosus are also princi- pally stream forms, but they are found most often in small streams where the current is not so evident. The still-water forms found both above and below the natural bridge are Lepisosteus platgrhincus, Amia calua, Opsopoeodus emiliae, Erim!/zon sucetta, Fundulus chrusotus, Fundulus notti, Chamobrut- tus gulosus, Etheostoma fusiforme barratti, and Labidesthes sicculus vanhuningi. Those 8shes found commonly in both lakes and streams are Notemigonus crysoleucas, Notropis petersoni, Ictalurus catus, Ictal- urus nebulosus, Noturus gyrinus, Lucania goodei, Gambusia a#inis holbrooki, Heterandria formosa, Aphredoderus sayanus, Lepomis mac- rochirus purpurescens, and Micropterus salmoides Boridanus. One catadromous species, Anguilla rostrata, occurs both above and below the natural bridge, and is the only euryhaline form found above it. The second major group of fishes includes the species found only above the natural bridge. These fishes, all either lake or small stream forms, are Esox americanus, Esox niger, Notropis chalybeus, Notropis maculatus, Fundulus cingulatus, Centrarchus macropterus, and Pomoxis nigromaculatus. All these species occur very infre- quently even in suitable habitat above the natural bridge, and prob- ably they also occur infrequently below it. However, during the period covered by the study, the water level of the river was very low and suitable habitat for these fishes was almost non-existent. One other species recorded from above the natural bridge, Umbra 32 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol 11 pygmaea, is known in Florida only from a few localities and is prob- ably very rare in the Santa Fe drainage. The last group includes the Bshes found only below the natural bridge. These can be subdivided into the primary freshwater forms Hybopsis harperi, Ictalurus sp., Fundulus seminolis, and Jordanella #oridae; and the euryhaline Strongylura marina, Mollienesia latipinna, Syngnathus scoueni, Mugil cephalus, and Trinectek maculatus. Hybopsis harperi, one of the few vertebrates known from the sub- terranean waters of Florida, also occurs in surface waters with con- siderable subterranean drainage, which is the general 5ituation be- low but not above the natural bridge. Ictalurus sp. is known in Florida to inhabit deep, rocky holes in swift, clear water, a habitat found in the Santa Fe only below the natural bridge. Possibly the natural bridge acts as a barrier to the upstream migration of Fundu- lus seminolis, which is not known from subterranean waters. Only one specimen of Jordanella was taken during the entire study; pr6b- ably this species, usually found in roadside ditches, strayed accident- ally into the Santa Fe. Of the euryhaline species, Alosa alabamae, the only anadromous species found in the river, was seen only in October. Although at times relatively abuffdant, this fish probably does not play a signifi- cant role in the overall ecology of the Santa Fe. The sturgeon and the mojarra are probably only accidental and sporadic Visitors. Tri- nectes maculatus also is probably only a visitor; it was found only below the natural bridge where it was rather abundant, but no large or very small specimens were encountered. Present knowledge in- dicates the sea as the species' place of reproduction as well as- the habitation of most of the population. Though Mugil cephalus forms a very conspicuous part of the Santa Fe fish fauna, as no evidence of breeding can be found and the species apparently leaves the river during the fall months, this mullet must also be called a euryhaline visitor. Strongylura marina was found moderately plentiful, but no evi- dence was obtained to indicate that it maintains a breeding popula- tion in the river. As this species spawns in the St. Johns River sys- tem and maintains heavy populations in some of the larger lakes in that drainage (McLane, 1955) possibly the needlefish may spawn in the Santa Fe. Mollienesia latipinna and Syngnathus scot)elli were abundant be- low the natural bridge. That both species maintain breeding popuk lations in the river is proved by the presence in the collections of 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 88 adults in breeding condition and of fry. No term is currently avail- able to distinguish Bshes that maintain breeding populations in both fresh and marine waters from other euryhaline types. For such spe- cies the writer proposes the term "dihaline". Of the 60 species found in the Santa Fe, 48 species were taken above and 42 species below the natural bridge. This practically even distribution in species numbers suggests that approximately the same number of ecological niches for fishes occur in each end of the river. Above the natural bridge 18 species made up approximately 90 per cent of the population as shown by numbers collected and per cent of total catch (Table 4). Below the natural bridge I8 species contributed over 90 per cent of the individuals collected (Table 5). Four of the species concerned, Micropterus notius, Lepomis m. pur- purescens, Lepomis microlophus and Percina nigrofasciata, were actually more abundant than the percentages indicate. Repeated direct observations confirmed that the catches did not refect their abundance accurately. The difference between the upper and lower, portions of the river apparently is not in the number of different habitats available, but in the relative extent of these habitats. Thus it is concluded that, although both segments 6f the Santa Fe are about evenly endowed with types of habitats, more of the habitats above the nat:ural bridge are more extensive than those below it, where a few principal hab- itats are very extended and the remainder quite restricted. DERIVATION OF THE ICHTHYOFAUNA The ichthyofauna of the Santa Fe may be divided into the following groups according to their area of derivation as based on known ranges given chief[y by Briggs (1958), and Carr and Coin (1955). 1. A northern element composed of fshes widespread to the northward and reaching their southern· limit in Florida. These spe- cies are: Lepisosteus osseus Notropis chalybeus Amia calua Opsopoeodus emiliae Umbra P!/ginaea Erimyzon sucetta Esox americanus Mingtrema metanops Esbx niger Ictalurus catus Notemigonus crusoleucas Ictalurus natalia 84 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 Ictalurus nebulosus marmoratus Elassoma zonatum Ictalurus punctatus Enneacanthus gloriosUs Noturus g!/rinus Enneacanthus obesus Gambusia allinis holbrooki Lepomis auritus Aphredoderus sayanus Pomoxis nigromaculatus Centrarchus macropterus Etheostoma fwiforme barratti Chaenobryttus gulokus 2. A sgutheastern element composed of fishes widespread in the southeastern U.S. These are: , Lepisosteus platt/rhincus Elassoma okefenokee Notropis hypselopterus Lepomis macrochirus pur- Notropis maculatus purescens Notropis petersoni Lepomis marginatus Noturus leptacanthus Lepomis microlophus Fundulus chrysotus Lepomis punctatus punctatus Fundulus cingulatus Etheostoma edwini Fundulus nom Percina nigrofasciata Heterandria formosa Labidesthes sicculus Elassoma evergladei vanh!/ningi 8. A typically Floridian element subdivided further into the fol- lowing three groups: a. Fishes typically Floridian but not exclusively so. Hybopsis harperi Jordanella #oridae Ictalums sp. b. Species endemic to Florida. Fundulus seminolis Lucania goodei Let*olucania ommata Micropterus salmoides floridanus c. Species nearly endemic to the Santa Fe Drainage. Micropterus notius 4. An element derived from marine waters.1 Acipenser oxyrhynchus desotoi Mollienesia latipinna Alosa alabamae Syngnathus scoueni Anguilla rostrata Mugil cephalus Strongylura marina Trinectes maculatus 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 85 It is interesting to note that of the dominant species in the Santa Fe, 9 are from the southeastern fauna, 7 from the northern, 4 from the typically Floridian and 1 from marine waters. The following species that were not collected during the present study might be expected to occur in the Santa Fe on the basis of their known ranges: Dorosoma cepedianum Notropis texanus Dorosoma petenense Notropis welaka Notropis cummingsae Acantharchus pomotis Notropis leesdi LITERATURE CITED Bailey, Reeve M., and Carl L. Hubbs 1949. The black basses (Micropterus) of Florida, with description of a new species. Occasional papers, No. 516, Univ. Mich., Mus. Zool. 40 pp., 2 pls. Bailey, Reeve M., Howard E. Winn, and C. Lavett Smith 1954. Fishes from the Escambia River, Alabama and Florida, with ecological and taxonomic notes. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 106: 109-164. Bailey, Reeve M., et al. 1960. A list of common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. Am, Fish. Soc, Spec. Publ. 2: 1-102, Berry, Frederick H. 1964. Review and emendation of: Family Clupeidae, pp. 257-454. By Sam- uel F. Hildebrand, with emendations by others, and sections on Haren- gula by Luis R. Rivas and on Dorosoma by Robert R. Miller. (In) Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Sears Foundation for Marine Research, New Haven, Connecticut, Memoir I, Part. 8. Copeia, 1964 (4): 720-730. B6hlke, James 1956. A new pyginy sunfish from southern Georgia. Notulae Naturae, Acad. Nat. Sci, Phil., 294: 1-11, Briggs, John C. 1958. Florida fishes and their distribution. Bull. Fla. State Mus. Biol. Sci., 2(8): 223-318. Caldwell, David K., Howard T. Odum, Thomas R. Hellier, Jr., and Frederick H. Berry 1957. Populations of spotted sunfish and Florida largemouth bass in a con- stant-temperature spring. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc., 85: 120-184. 86 BULLETIN FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Vol. 11 Carr, Archie, and Coleman J. Coin 1955. Guide to the reptiles, amphibians and freshwater fishes of Florida. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, Florida. 341 pp Carr, Marjorie H. 1942. The breeding habits, embryology and larval development of the large- mouth black bass in Florida. Proc. New England Zool, Club, 20: 43-77. 1947. Notes on the breeding habits of the eastern stumpknocker, Lepomis punctatus punctatus (Cuvier). Proc. Fla. Acad. Sci., 9(2) 101-106. Chable, Alphonse C. 1947. A study of the food habits and ecological relationships Of sunfishes of northern Florida. (Unpubl. Master's Thesis, Univ. of Fla. Library). Eyles, Don E., and J. Lynne Robertson, Jr. 1944. A guide and key to the aquatic plants of the southeastern United States. Public Health Bull. 286. Ferguson, G. E., C. W. Lingham, S. K. Lov.e, and R. 0. Vernon 1947. Springs of Florida. Fla. Geol. Sur. Bull., 31: 1-196. Guntef. Gordon 1942. A list of the fshes of the mainland of North and Middle America re- corded from both freshwater and sea water. Amer. Midl. Nat., 28(2): 805-326. Herald, Earl S., and Roy R. Strickland 1949. An annotated list of the fishes of Homosassa Springs, F16rida. Quart. Jour. Fla. Acad. Sci., 11(4) 99-109. Hubbs, Carl S., and Mott D. Cannon 1985. The darters of the genera Holoepis and Villora. Misc. Publ. No. 80, Univ. Mich., Mus. Zool. 98 pp., 3 pls., 1 fig. Kilby, John D. 1949. A preliminary report on young striped mullet (Mugil cephalus Linnaeus) in two Gulf coastal areas of Florida. Quart. Jour. Fla. Acad. Sci., 11(1): 7-28, pl. 1. MeLane, William M. 1955. The fishes of the St. Johns River System. (Unpubl. Doctoral Disserta- tion, Univ. of Fla. Libraiy). Mansueti, Romeo, and Ralph Pauly 1956. Age and growth of the northern hogchoker, Trinectes maculatus macu- lotus, in the Patuxent River, Maryland. Copeia, 1956(1): 60-62. Marshall, Nelson 1947. Studies on the life history and ecology of Notropis chalybaeus (Cope). Quart. Jour. Fla. Acad. Sci., 9(8/4): ]LBS-188, pls. 2. 1967 HELLIER: FISHES OF THE SANTA FE 87 Odum, Hbward T. 1953. Factors controlling marine invasion into Florida waters. Bul. Mar. Sci. Gulf & Carib., 3:134-156. Stubbs, Sidney A. 1941. Solution a dominant factor in the geoniorphology of Peninsular Florida. Fla. Acad. Sci., 5: 148-167. West, Erdman, and Lillian E. Arnold 1956. The natiVe trees of Florida. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, Florida. 218 pp. .1. 88 B U LLE T IN F LO R ID A S TATE M U S E U M Vol. 11 TABLE 4. DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY CATCHES ABOVE THE NATURAL BRIDGEI Total Per Jan Feb Mar April June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number Cent Number of Speci- Total Collections 2 4 145 8 5 9 2 2' B mens Catch Gambusia affinis holbrooki -- 12 15 69 81 219 - 814 211 48 2 966 17.0 Lepomis auritus 2 29 18 82 149 184 188 271 55 4 932 16.4 Labidesthes sicculus , vanhyningi 2 64 -- 58 81 59 192 118 68 56 688 11.2 Lucania goodei 2 98 48 96 78 77 128 42 1 560 9.9 Notemigunus crysoleucas 2 - 4 276 88 61 17 18 9 425 7.5 Micropterus salmoides Horidanus 1 2 2 75 113 68 89 80 2 6 888 5.9 Lepomis microlophus 8 9 12 100 1 6 85 26 19 211 3.7 Heterandria forniosa 1 - 4- 4 12 15 114 81 - 177 8.1 Enneacanthus gloriosus - 1 - 98 14 2 - 172 8 . 0 Notropis petersoni 1 16 28 59 65 1 2 172 8.0 Lepomis macrochirus purpurescens 2 1 5 11 7 29 62 20 137 2.4 Lepomis punctatus punctatus 1 1 12 5 14 11 2 65 5 7 128 2.2 * Species are arranged' by relative abundance in collections. 1967 H E LLIE R : FIS H E S O F TH E S A N TA FE 89 TABLE 4-Continued Total Per Jan Feb Mar April June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number Cent Number of Speci- Total Collections 2 4 145 85922 8 mens Catch Notropis hypselopterus - - - - 15 - 107 -- -- 122 2.2 Percina nigrofasciata 1 - 27 6 9 7 82 -- -- 82 1.4 Noturus leptacanthus 1 - 41 2 6 8 18 -- 6 72 1.8 Elassoma okefenokee - 1 - - 28 - 9 32 - 65 1.1 Opsopoeodus emiliae - - - - 12 48 - --60·1.1 Micropterus notius 7 2 4 21 9 10 5 - - 58 1.0 Fundulus chrysotus - - - 1 - 4 6 48 - - 54 1.0 Chaenobryttus gulosus 2 2 - 8 - 2 3 81 5 2 50 .9 Noturus gyrinus - 4 - 2 - - 8 28 1 1 44 .6 Fundulus cingulatus - - - 1 - 8 81 - - 85 .6 Aphredoderus sayanus 8-18 7 5 4 1 1 80 .5 Notropis chalybeus - - - 2 7 - 21 - 80 .5 Etheostoma fusiforme barratti 85-1 5 8 5 2 29 .5 Fundulus notti - - 2 8 - 12 - 22 .4 Etheostoma edwini 1 2 4 2 2 6 17 .8 Ictalurus catus 5 - 1 4 5 15 .8 40 B U LLE T IN F LO R ID A S TAT E M U S E U M Vol. 11 TABLE 4-Continued Total Per Jan Feb Mar April June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number Cent Number of Speci- Total Collections 2 4 1 4 5 85 9 2 2 8 ,mens Catch Notropis maculatus 1 4,1 6 8 - 15 .8 Erimyzon sucetta 2 - 8 '2 1 13 .8 Ictalurus natalis -- 1 11 - - 12 .2 Elassoma zonatum - - 9 - - 9 .2 Ictalurus nebulosus marmoratus 1 8 4--- 8 .1 Leptolucania ommata - - 4 - 8 - 1 - '8.1 Mihytrema melanops - 1 2 4 1 - - - - .1 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 1 -1 - 1 - 2 1 .1 Lepisosteus osseus - 1 1 1 - - Amia calva 1 - - 1 - - Esox americanus 1 1 - - - Lepisosteus platyrhincus 2--- 00 © co 01 61 8 1 .. Anguilla rostrata - - - - 1 Centrarchus macropterus - - --- - 1 - - - Total specimens 17 164 162 474 921 896 1108 1421 2 407 150 5722 TABLE 5. DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY CATCHES BELOW THE NATURAL BRIDGE® Total Per Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number Cent Number of Speci- Total Collections 4 4 1 4 1 4 12 4 8 3 8 8 mens Catch Lucania goodei 22 87 -- 102 4 86 316 126 137 25 120 868 1848 20.7 Hybopsis harperi 92 52 - - 13 18 867 106 102 -- 146 186 1082 16.7 Mollienesia latipinna 8 35 - 158 42 15 117 10 24 - 85 232 721 11.1 Notropis petersoni 12 24 - 204 - - 21 19 144 35 61 23 543 8.4 Noturus gyrinus 9 6 - 7 2 10 25 25 94 10 182 82 402 6.2 Gambusia affirtis holbrooki 13 26 - 89 2 40 108 48 29 2 49 54 400 6.2 Aphredoderud dayanus 7 1 - 5 - - 12 4 77 58 25 58 242 8.7 Lepomis punctatus punctatus 11 5 - 12 2 8 20 83 88 28 65 21 238 8.4 Lepomis auritus 28 7 - 8 .3 15 45 11 12 82 81 9 191 2.9 Fundulus seminolis 6 8 - 49 - -- 57 8 15 2 40 8 188 2.9 Syngnathus scovelli 9 8 - 5 16 1 58 89 18 9 28 4 180 2.8 Micropterus notius 10 8 - 4 - 8 34 9 17 86 18 30 164 2.5 Trinectes .maculatus - - - 5 48 -- 55 6 -- 8 81 - 143 2.2 Micropterus salmoides Horidanus _ 4 1 - 12 8 - 58 6 18 5 21 2 125 1.9 *Species arranged by relative abundance in collections. TABLE 5-Continued Total Per Jan Feb Mar April May -June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number Cent Number of Speci- Total Collections 4 4 1 4 1 4 12 4 8 8 8 8 mens Catch Labidesthes sicculus vanliyningi 1 - 19 - - - 61 1. ,9 8 8 - 102 1.6 Heterandria formosa 1 8 -- 28 1 21 11 8 2 - 8 24 97 1.5 Noturus leptacanthus 2 - - - - - 2 11 4 14 18 9 60 .9 Etheostoma adwini 5 - - - 1 1 6 1. 2 7 14 - 37 .6 Elassoma zonatum - 10 - 4 - 1 9 9 3 36 .6 Lepomis macrochirus purpurescens 82-- 3 12 10 -- 8 2 1 36 .6 Lepomis microldphus - 8 - 7 - 8 1 2 8 4 6 83 .5 Ictalurus sp. 2 - - - 8 5 1 16 27 .4 Ictalurus nebulosus marmoratus -----58 2 21720.3 Ictalurus natalis - - - - - 2 2 1 11 - 1 17 .2 Anguilla rostrata - 1 -.12 - 3 1 1 8 12 .2 Etheostoma fusiforme barratti ---4 2 129.1 Notemigonus crysoleucas - - - - 9 - 9 .1 TABl,E 5-Cmti;itted Total Per Jan. Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number 'Cent Number of Speci- Total Collections 44 1 4 1 4 12 4 8 8 8 8 mens Catch Percina nigrofasciata - - - 1 - - - 1 1 6 - - .1 Alosa alabamae - - - - - - - - - 6 - - .1 Chaenobryttus gulosus - 5 - - - - - 1 - - - - .1 Minytrema melanops - - - 2 - - - - - 1 1 1 .1 Strongylura marina - - - 3 - -- -- - - - _ ...... Erimyzon sucettta - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 Fundulus notti - - - - - - 2 IctaIurus catus - - - - - - - _ _ - 2 2 * fc> 1,5 co 01 01 01 01 + p« + = Mugil cephalus Elassoma okefenokee - - - - - - - - 1 Fundulus chrysotus - - - - - - 1 Jordanella floridae - - - - - 1 - Lepisosteus osseus - - - - - - 1 - - Notropis hypselopterus - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 Total specimens 240 278 19 645 135 175 1412 . 481 759 282 917 1151 6494 TABLE 6. DISTRIBUTION o F FISHES BY STATIONS SHOWING TOTALS COLLECTED AND PERCENTAGES TAKEN AT EACH STATION ABOVE AND BELOW THE NATURAL BRIDGE Above Natural Bridge Below Natural Bridge Per- Per- cent- cent- Total Sta Sta Sta Sta age Sta Sta Sta Sta age Species No.2· 8 1 4 Other' Above 8 6 5 7, Other' Below Alosa alabamae 6 - - 0 100.0 - 100.0 Amia calva 2 50.0 50.0 100.0 - - - - - 0 Anguilla rostrata 13 - - - 7.7 - 7.7 88.5 80.8 - 28.0 - 92.3 Aphredoderus sayanus 272 .3 8.7 3.7 2.6 11.0 2.2 38.0 1.4 40.4 7.1 89.0 Centrarchus macropterus 1 - - 100.0 100.0 - - - - - 0 Chaenobryttus gulosus 56 28.7 7.1 58.5 89.8 - 10.7 10.7 Elassoma okefenokee 66 50.0 48.5 98.5 - -- 1.5 1.5 Elassoma zonatum 45 2'2 - 17.8 20.0 2.2 66.7 11.1 80.0 Enneacanthus gloriosus 172 11.6 .58 98.8 100.0 - - - 0 Erimyzon sucetta 15 5.9 82.8 88.2 - 5.9 5.9 11.8 Esox americanus 2 - 100.0 100.0 - - 0 Esox niger 1 100.0 100.0 - - 0 Etheostoma fusiforme barratti 38 - 84.2 28.9 18.2 76.3 - 18.4 5.8 - - 23.7 Etheostoma edwini 54 29.6 - - 18.0 13.0 22.2 20.3 68.531.5 Fundulus chrysotus 55 5.5 5.5 87.2 97.2 1.8 1.8 Fundulus cingulatus 35 2.9 5.7 91.4 100.0 ---0 Fundulus notti 24 8.8 88.3 91.6 - 4.2 - 4.2 8.4 Fundulus seminolis 188 - - - - 0 4.2 70.7 - 9.0 16.0 100.0 Gambusia affinis holbrooki 1366 .08 18.0 17.8 88.7 69.5 .8 22.4 1.5 - - 6,8 80.5 1 Tributary streams and flood plain ponds. 2 Springs, spring runs, and river sites other than the stations. TABLE 6-Continued Above Natural Bridge Below Natural Bridge ]Per- Per- cent- cent- Total Sta Sta Sta Sta age Sta Sta Sta Sta age Species No. 2 8 1 4 Other' Above 8 6 5 7 Other' Below Heterandria formosa 274 .4 7.3 7.7 - 49.6 64.6 - 25.5 6,6 2.9 35.4 Hybopsis 'harperi 1082 - - 0 7.6 89.6 .2 22.8 29.8 100.0 Ictalums catus 17 5.9 - 82.3 - 188.2 - 5.9 5.9 11.8 Ictalurus nat!alis 29 8.4 - 37.9 41.4 51.7 6.9 58.6 Ictalurus nebulosus marmoratus 28 8.6 10.7 14.3 29.0 85.7 3.6 82.1 - 71.0 Ictalurus sp. 27 0 8.7 88.9 7.4 100.0 Jordanella floridae 1 0 100.0 100.0 Labidesthei sicculus vanhyningi 740 4.0 44.0 30.9 7.2 86.1 .5 10.5 1.9 1.0 18.9 Lepisosteus oseus 4 25.0 50.0 75.0. 25.0 25.0 Lepisosteus platyrhincus 2 - - - 100.0 100.0 -----0 Lepomis auritus 1128 .8 81.2 87.8 18.8 88.0 1.7 6.2 3.7 3.6 1.9 17.0 Lepomis macrochirus. purpurescens 178 67.6 5.1 6.4 79.2 6.9 8.1 4.1 1.7 - 20.8 Lepomis microlophus 244 85.2 .4 .8 86.4 4.1 7.0 2.5 13.6 Lepomis punctatus punctatus 356 .8 24.7 2.5 - 6.5 84.6 1.4 15.7 4.8 42.4 1.1 65.4 Leptolucania ommata 8 - - - - 100.0 100.0 - - - - 0 Lucania goodei 1908 .6 22.0 1.4 - 5.5 29.4 2.6 36.9 1.0 30.9 70.6 Micropterus notius 222 .9 15.8 6.8 - 2.7 26.2 19.8 25.7 4.9 28.4 78.8 TABLE 6-Continued Above Natural Bridge Below Natural Bridge Per- Per- cent- cent- Species . Total Sta Sta Sta Sta age Sta Sta Sta Sta age No, 2 3 1 4 Other' Above 8 6 5 7 Other' Below Micropterus salmoides Horidanus 458 .5 37.8 27.8 9,3 74.9 1.6 14.4 :7 2.0 6.4 25.1 Minytrema melanops 18 7.7 46.1 7.7 61.5 7.7 7.7 7.7 15:4 38.5 Mollienesia latipinna 721 - 0 - 58.1 8.0 88.9 100.0 Mugil cephalus 2 - - - 0 50.0 50.0 100.0 Notemigonus crysoleueas 434 .7 94.8 8.0 98.0 2.0 2.0 Notropis chalybeus 80 6.6 93.4 100.0 - 0 Notropis hypselopterus 128 - - - 99.2 99.2 .8 .8 Notropis maculatus 15 - 40.0 6.7 53.8 100.0 - - - - - 0 Notropis petersoni 7IS 1.8 7.8 1.0 14.5 , 24.0 5.0 28.7 2.4 18.8 26.0. 76.0 Noturus gyFinus 446 1.8 .2 1.5 6.8 9.9 3.4 82.5 - 5.4.8 90.1 Noturus leptacanthus 132 41.7 8.0 1.5 8.8 54.5 84.1 9.1 .8 1.5 45.5 Opsopoeodus emiliae 60 - 20.0 75.0 5.0 100.0 - - 0 Percina nigrofasciata 91 26.4 2.2 83.0 28.6 90.1 8.8 6.6 9.9 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 6 88.8 16.7 100.0- - - 0 Strongylura marina 8 0 - 66.6 38.3 100.0 Syngnathus scovelli 180 0 262 69.0 1.2 8.6 100.0 Trinectes maculatus 148 0 8.4 64.3 27.8 100.0 Contfibutiohs, to the BULLETIN OF *HE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM may· be in any field «f bfology. 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