List of fishes of Kansas

A map showing the location of the U.S. State of Kansas.
The location of the State of Kansas in the United States of America.
A labelled map of the major rivers in Kansas

There are roughly 135 recorded species of fish in the U.S. State of Kansas.[1] This list is an amalgamation of the works Cross & Collins books Handbook of Fishes of Kansas (1967) and Fishes in Kansas (1995) as well as Current Status of Native Fish Species in Kansas (2005) by multiple authors and the Pocket Guide of Kansas Stream Fishes by Jessica Mounts (2017). The following tags note species in each of those categories:

Background

Kansas is located in the Great Plains region which is characterized by mostly slow-running rivers and a near total absence of large naturally occurring lakes excluding oxbows and a few shallow salt marshes and sloughs. Since the European settlement of the area, many rivers and creeks have been dammed creating large reservoirs, largely by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. The biggest of these reservoirs is Milford Lake at 15,709 acres (6,357 ha). Kansas is home to 12 rivers basins, all of which drain into the Gulf of Mexico approximately 507 miles (816 km) south.

Order Petromyzontiformes (Lampreys)

Family Petromyzontidae (Northern lampreys)

Order Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons & paddlefish)

The Shovelnose sturgeon is the only sturgeon that has been recorded in Kansas since 1998

Family Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)

Family Polyodontidae (Paddlefish)

Order Lepisosteiformes (Gars)

Longnose gar is the largest and most widespread predatory fish in Kansas[1]

Family Lepisosteidae (Gars)

Order Hiodontiformes (Mooneyes)

Family Hiodontidae (Mooneyes)

Order Anguilliformes (Eels)

Formerly ranging statewide, the last recorded capture of an American eel was in 1987 from the Kansas River[2]

Family Anguillidae (Freshwater eels)

Order Clupeiformes (Herrings & relatives)

Family Alosidae (Shads & sardines)

Order Cypriniformes (Carps, minnows, and relatives)

The Northern hogsucker and the Black redhorse are restricted to Shoal Creek in Cherokee County due to a decline in ideal habitat[1][2]
Golden Redhorse is found throughout Southeast Kansas

Family Catostomidae (Suckers)

Family Cyprinidae (cyprinids)

Silver carp have been found in the Kansas, Missouri, and Nemaha River systems[3]

Family Leuciscidae (True minnows)

Central stoneroller can be found in small streams and the channelized portions of rivers.[1]
the Topeka shiner is named after Topeka, Kansas
the Red shiner can be found in most waterways in Kansas
Bigeye shiner is found in the Verdigris, Caney, and Spring Rivers in Southeast Kansas[1]

Order Siluriformes (Catfishes)

Family Ictaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)

Channel catfish is the state fish of Kansas

Order Esociformes (Pikes and mudminnows)

Northern pike is present in most large reservoirs in Kansas

Family Esocidae (Pikes)

Order Gadiformes (Cods)

Family Lotidae (Lingcods)

Order Cyprinodontiformes (Toothcarps)

The Plains killifish is among the most dominant fish in western Kansas, being able to handle more salinity than most other fish[1]

Family Fundulidae (Topminnows & Killifish)

Family Poeciliidae (Livebearers)

Family Atherinidae (Silversides)

Order Scorpaeniformes (Sculpins)

Family Cottidae (Sculpins)

Order Perciformes (Perch-liked fish)

Family Moronidae (Temperate basses)

Family Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)

Green sunfish is the most abundant sunfish in Kansas
Largemouth bass is a highly prized gamefish through Kansas

Family Percidae (Perches)

The Arkansas Darter is endemic to the Arkansas River System, and was first discovered near Garden City in 1885[1]
Logperch is found throughout tributaries in eastern Kansas

Family Sciaenidae (Drums)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cross, Frank B.; Collins, Joseph T. (1995). Fishes in Kansas (PDF) (2nd Revised ed.). University of Kansas. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Haslouer, Stephen G.; Eberle, Mark E.; Edds, David R.; Gido, Keith B.; Mammoliti, Chris S.; Triplett, James R.; Collins, Joseph T.; Distler, Donald A.; Huggins, Donald G.; Stark, William J.; Knight, G. Layne. "Current Status of Native Fish in Kansas". Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  3. ^ Mounts, Jessica (2017). A POCKET GUIDE TO Kansas Stream Fishes (PDF). Retrieved 17 July 2024.