J. Ariz. Acad. Sc., 6(3):
183-188, 1971.
(32)
•
KEYS TO NATIVE AND INTRODUCED FISHES OF ARIZONA
W. L.
MINCKLEY
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, TEMPE'
I NTRODUCTION.—The following artificial
keys are modified from those used over the past few
years in classes at Arizona State University, and have
been compiled from original data and from previously
published reports. These materials are provided in
advance of a more comprehensive work on fishes of
the State, which will include literature citations, explanations of taxonomic decisions, more data on
recently introduced or hypothetical forms, and so on.
Common names are generally those recommended
in the "Checklist of Common Names of Fishes of
the United States and Canada," published in 1960 by
the American Fisheries Society, insofar as is possible.
Non-native fishes dominate the present ichthyofauna
of Arizona, and these are marked by an asterisk (*)
in the key. Species that have yet to become definitely
established are included in footnotes. Fishes introduced in the distant past that obviously did not
become established, or recorded only as bait along
the lower Colorado River and not yet taken in the
open waters, are generally ignored.
Research upon which these materials are based was
supported by the Faculty Research Committee and
the Department of Zoology, Arizona State University, Arizona Game and Fish Department, National
Science Foundation, Sport Fishing Institute, The
Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. I gratefully acknowledge efforts of
my colleagues, present and former graduate students,
and numerous undergraduate students, who made
this key a hopefully workable unit. Any errors or
omissions are, of course, entirely my responsibility.
6.
Lateral line and gular plate both present. Family
ELOPIDAE. Elops affinis Regan, machete.
Lateral line reduced to a few, anterior, pored scales.
Gular plate absent. Family CLUPEIDAE. Dorosoma petenense ( Gunther), threadfin shad.*
7.
Dorsal fin with 17 or more soft-rays. Embedded edges
of scales indented. Family SALMONIDAE ( Thymallinae). ThymaIlus artlicscr signifer Cope,
Arctic grayling.*
Dorsal fin with fewer than 17 soft-rays. Scales
rounded. Family SALMONIDAE (Salmoninae) . 8
8.
Fontanelles absent in skull of adult. Anal fin with
13 or more soft-rays. Branchiostegal rays 13 to 19.
9
Palatine and prevomer bones widely separated
Fontanelles present in skull of adult. Anal fin with
13 (rarely) or fewer soft-rays. Branchiostegal rays
12 or fewer. Palatine and prevomer bones nar10
rowly separated
9.
Small, distinct, dark spots on dorsurn of body. Caudal fin spots, if present, on upper lobe only. First
rays of dorsal fin sometimes elongated. First rays
of anal fin whitened and elongated in young.
Oncorhynchus kisutch ( Walbaum), coho salmon.*
Dark spots generally absent from dorsum of body and
caudal fin. First rays of dorsal and anal fins neither
elongated nor whitened. Oncoritynebus nerka kennerlyi (Suckley), kokanee.*
10.
Color pattern on body of light spots on darker background. Teeth absent from shaft of prevomer.
Salvelinks fontinalis ( Mitchill), brook trout.*
Color pattern on body of dark markings on lighter
background. Teeth present on shaft of prevomer 11
11.
Dark spots on dorsum and sides of body outlined
with lighter color. Adipose dorsal fin large, orange
in young. Spotting absent or weakly developed on
caudal fin. Salmo outlet Linnaeus, brown trout.*
Dark spots on body not outlined with lighter color.
Adipose dorsal fin smaller, olivaceotts, and often
dark-margined in young. Spotting typically well
developed on caudal fin
12
12.
Teeth well developed on basibranchial bones. Dark
speckles on dorsum rarely as large as pupil of eye,
usually much smaller. Ground color typically silvery, but sometimes brownish. Reddish (yelloworange to red-orange) dash on each side of throat
along inner borders of dentary banes (cutthroat
mark). Salmo clarki Richardson, cutthroat trout.'
Teeth typically absent from basibranchial bones. No
cutthroat mark, or, if present, poorly developed as
pale-yellow or reddish dash. If cutthroat mark
present, speckles on dorsurn of body large or small,
but ground color yellow to brassy-golden. If
ground color silvery, dark speckles on dorsum
smaller and often diffuse
13
13.
Parr marks usually absent in adult. Scales two rows
above lateral line 115 to 165 along side, usually
fewer than 150. Upper jaw short in all but old,
large males, usually 2.0 to 2.1 times in length of
head (range, 1.9 to 2.2). Pyloric caecae typically
ARTIFICIAL KEYS TO ARIZONA FISHES
I. Caudal fin heterocercal. Family ACIPENSERIDAE.
Acipenser transmontensts Richardson, white stur.
geon.*
Caudal fin homocercal .................................................. 2
2.
Anterior vertebrae relatively unmodified. Head scaled
or naked. Body scaled
3
Anterior vertebrae modified into a Weberian apparatus. Head naked. Body scaled or naked
15
3.
Fins tacking spines, supported wholly by soft, segmented rays
4
At least some fins supported by unsegmented true
spines, flexible or stiff
66
4.
Head naked
Head scaled, at least in part
5.
Adipose fin absent, or if present, lateral line absent
or rudimentary
6
Adipose fin present
7
5
55
'Visiting Research Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, at the time this
paper was submitted.
183
184
JOURNAL OF THE ARIZONA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
more than 40. Salmo gairdneri ( Richardson), rainbow trout.*
Parr marks usually retained throughout life. Scales in
lateral series 130 to 172, usually more than 140.
Upper jaw longer, typically 1.7 to 1.9 in length of
head. Pyloric caecae 22 to 42, typically fewer
than 35 ....................................................................... 14
Vol. 6
20.
Dorsal fin with two spinose rays at its leading edge,
the anterior one grooved to receive second. Medial
edges of pelvic fins adnate to belly
21
Dorsal fin lacking spinose rays (first 1 or 2 rudimentary, unbranched rays may appear spine-like.
but are visibly segmented under appropriate magnification). Medial edges of pelvic fins rarely
adnate to belly
2.1
21.
A single barbel at each side of upper jaw. Anal fin
with 10 soft-rays. Color silvery, over-all. Plagopterus argentissimus Cope, woundfin.
Barbels lacking. Anal fin with nine or fewer soft.
rays. Color gray or brownish, often mottled or
speckled
22
22.
Scales apparently absent, excepting a few near
anterior part of lateral line. First spinose ray of
dorsal fin stronger than second, and almost as
elongate. Meda Weida Girard, spikedace.
Scales present, with infrequent exception of near
bases of paired fins. First spinose ray of dorsal fin
25
weaker, obviously shorter than second
23.
DAE ............................................................................ 50'
Anal fin-rays eight. Pharyngeal teeth in main row
4-4. Scales in lateral line usually more than 90.
Lepidomeda vittata Cope, Little Colorado River
16.
Jaws bearing teeth. Adipose dorsal fin present. Family CHARACIDAE. Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus
(Fillipi), Mexican tetra.*
17
Jaws toothless. Adipose fin absent
Anal fin-rays nine. Pharyngeal teeth in main row
5-4 (rarely 4-4). Scales in lateral line fewer than
89. Lepidomeda m. mollispinis Miller and Hubbs,
middle Colorado River (Virgin River) spinedace.
17.
Pharyngeal teeth in 1 to 3 rows, with no more than
8 teeth in principal row. Lips typically thin and
smooth, relatively unmodified. Family CYPRINI-
14.
15.
Spotting on dorsum of body and caudal fin extremely
fine and profuse. Scales in lateral series usually
fewer than 150 (130 to 164). Body thick, its
width 14 to 16 percent of standard length. Pelvic
fins short, their lengths averaging 14 percent of
standard length (12 to 15 percent). Salmo gilae
Miller. Gila trout.
Spotting on dorsum of body and caudal fin scattered,
large and dark. Scales in lateral series usually more
than 150 (139 to 172). Body compressed laterally,
its width 12 to 14.5 percent of standard length.
Pelvic fins longer, their lengths averaging 16 percent of standard length (14.5 to 17). Salmo
species, "Apache trout."
16
Barbels ranging from two pairs to none
Three pairs of fleshy barbels. Family ICEALURI-
DAE
19.
24.
Belly between pelvic fins and anus compressed into a
fleshy keel. Notemigonus crysolesim ( Mitchill),
golden shiner.*
Belly between pelvic fins and anus rounded, not
keeled
25
25.
Intestine long and convoluted, comprising many coils
and loops, typically longer than three times standard length
26
Intestine short and smooth, usually with one (rarely
more than two) flat loops, rarely longer than 1 5
times standard length
28
26.
Jaws with thin, cartilaginous sheaths. Air bladder
encircled by many loops of elongated intestine.
Cam postoma ornatum Girard. Mexican stone-roller.
Jaws lacking cartilaginous sheaths. Air bladder not
encircled by loops of intestine
27
27.
Lateral line with more than 70 scales. A single,
minute barbel at each side of upper jaw. Agorid
chrysogaster Girard, longfin dace.
Lateral line with fewer than 50 scales. Barbels lacking. Pimephales promelas Rafinesque, fathead min-
28.
Body elongated, pike-like. Snout long and slender.
Inside of jaw , produced into an acute, knife-like
edge covered with skin. Lower limb of pharyngeal
arch slender and elongated. Ptychocheilus lucius
Girard, Colorado River squawfish.
Body stouter. Snout shorter and relatively blunt.
Inside of jaws rounded. Lower limb of pharyngeal
arch stout and short
29
29.
A single barbel at each side of upper jaw. Rhinichthy osculus ( Girard), speckled dace.
Barbels lacking
30
30.
Mouth small, highly oblique. Body mottled, with
light-colored spots at front and rear of dorsal fin
........................................................................... 18'
Pharyngeal teeth in a single row, always more than
16 in number. Lips typically thick, fleshy, plicate
or papillose. Family CATOSTOMIDAE ............ 40
18.
spinedace.
Dorsal fin with a long base, containing more than 11
soft-rays. Dorsal and anal fins each with a strong,
19
spinose ray at its leading edge
Dorsal fin with a short base, containing fewer than
10 soft-rays. Dorsal fin with or without spinose
rays; if present, none is serrated. Anal fin never
20
with spinose structures
Two barbels on each side of upper jaw. Lateral-line
scales 35 to 38 (except in "mirror" and "leather"
varieties of carp, which may have fewer numbers.
or be naked). Gill rakers 21 to 27. Pharyngeal
teeth in three rows, molariform. Cyprinus carpio
Linnaeus, carp.*
Barbels absent. Lateral-line scales fewer than 29. Gill
rakers 37 to 43. Pharyngeal teeth in a single row,
non-molariform. Carassius auratus (Linnaeus),
goldfish.*
'A single specimen of Clarias batrachus Linnaeus (family
Clariidae), the "walking catfish," was caught from a canal
near Winterhaven, California, by an unknown fisherman in
early 1970, and deposited at the Collection of Fishes, Arizona State University. Clariids have four pairs of barbels,
lack an adipose fin, and have well-developed epibranchial
organs.
The Asiatic white amur, or "grass carp," Clenopharyngodon
idellus ( Valenciennes), has been maintained in experimental ponds near Tucson and at the Page Springs Hatchery,
It is not known from open waters. This fish has two rows
of serrated, laterally compressed, pharyngeal teeth.
now.•
February 1971
MINCKLEY - FISHES OF ARIZONA
line pores accentuated on each side by short dashes.
Anal fin-rays seven. Noiropis stramineui (Cope),
sand shiner.*
Vertebral streak continuous around base of dorsal
fin, fainter posteriorly. Lateral-line pores not outlined. Anal fin-rays 8 or 9
39'
base, and on dorsal and ventral margins of caudal
peduncle. at base of caudal fin. Tiaroga cobitis
( Girard), loach minnow.
Mouth larger, not highly oblique. Body sometimes
mottled, but light spots never developed at dorsal
31
and caudal bases
32
33
31.
Lateral line with more than 55 scales
Lateral line with fewer than 45 scales
32.
Inguinal processes present. Scales crowded in predorsal area. Richardionius balteatus hydra phlox
( Cope), redside shiner.*
Inguinal processes absent. Scales, sometimes partially
absent or embedded, not conspicuously crowded
predorsally
33
33.
Dorsal, anal, and pelvic soft-rays usually eight (the
last most variable, ranging from 7 to 9). Scales in
lateral line fewer than 80
34 4
Dorsal, anal, and pelvic soft-rays usually nine or
more. Scales in lateral line more than 81
36
34.
Scales in lateral line fewer than 60. Body thickened
anteriorly. Color generally dark over-all, not sharply bicolored or banded. Gila purpurea ( Girard),
Yaqui chub.
Scales in lateral line 61 or more (except in restricted
populations of Gila intermedia, which range downward to 56). Body generally fusiform. Color dark
above, lighter below, or banded
35
35.
Mouth nearly horizontal. Basal radii strongly developed on scales. Two dark, prominent bands along
each side of body. Basicaudal spot present. Gila
ditaenia Miller, Sonora chub.
Mouth definitely oblique. Basal radii weakly developed on scales. Lateral bands rarely developed, and
if present, diffuse. No discrete basicaudal spot.
Gila intermedia (Girard), Gila chub.
36.
Skull flattened on dorsum, or convex. Predorsal hump
absent. Caudal peduncle short, thick, and wide, its
depth in length of head usually less than 4.0. Fins
relatively small and rounded. Dorsal and anal finrays nine or fewer, rarely 10. Gila robusia Baird
and Girard, Colorado chub.
Skull depressed on dorsum, concave. Predorsal hump
present. Caudal peduncle long and thin, its depth
in length of head more than 4.5. Fins large and
falcate. Dorsal and anal fin-rays usually 10 (dorsal
fin-rays nine in Gila cypha) ................................ 37
37.
38.
Mouth inferior, essentially horizontal, overhung by
fleshy snout. Dorsal hump broad and truncate, rising abruptly at ocaput and sometimes even projecting forward. Dorsal fin-rays usually nine. Gila
cypha Miller, humpback chub.
Mouth terminal, oblique, not overhung by snout.
Dorsal hump rising smoothly from depressed skull
at occiput. Dorsal fin-rays usually 10. Gila elegant
Baird and Girard, bonytail chub.
Vertebral streak broken before and behind dorsal fin
b.ise, forming a discrete, elongated dash. Lateral-
'Gila airaria ( Girard), with dorsal fin-rays typically 9
(8 to
10), anal fin-rays usually 8 (7 to 9), and -15 to 65 scales in
the lateral line, is acclimated in the upper Colorado River,
has been taken in Lake Powell, Utah, just upstream from
Arizona, and has been used as bait along the lower Colorado, Arizona-California-Nevada; it most likely is established, at least locally, in Arizona.
185
39.
More than 38 scales in lateral line. Scales obviously
crowded in nape region. Notropis formosui mearnti
Snyder, Yaqui shiner.
Fewer than 38 scales in lateral line. Scales not markedly crowded in nape region. Notropit lutrensis
(Baird and Girard), red shiner.*
40.
Dorsal fin long, with more than 20 soft-rays
Dorsal fin short, with fewer than 19 soft-rays
41.
Mouth large and oblique; lips smooth and thin;
upper jaw about as long as snout. Head large,
blunt, and thick. Lower pharyngeal bones thin and
delicate. Gill rakers on posterior face of first gillarch more than 40, usually more than 50, long and
thin. Ictiobus cyprinellus ( Valenciennes), bigmouth
buffalo.*
Mouth smaller and horizontal or nearly so, rarely
slightly oblique. Lips thick and papillose. Upper
jaw shorter than snout. Head smaller, flattened
below and laterally compressed. Lower pharyngeal
bones thick and heavy. Gill rakers on first gill-arch
fewer than 50, usually fewer than 40, short and
42
thick
42.
Body depth in standard length about 2.5 (2.2 to
2.8), laterally compressed. Head thin, its width
more than 5.0 in standard length. Eye length in
length of snout less than 2.0. lciiobus bubalut
(Rafinesque), smallmouth buffalo.*
Body depth in standard length about 3.0 (2.6 to
3.5). Head rounded, its width less than 5.0 in
standard length. Eye length in length of snout
more than 2.0. Ictiobus niger (Rafinesque), black
buffalo.*
43.
Nape compressed and elevated abruptly into a pronounced ridge. Dorsal fin-rays usually more than
13. Xyrauchen texanus ( Abbott), razorback sucker.
Nape rounded, not elevated into an abrupt ridge.
Dorsal fin-rays usually 13 or fewer
44
44.
Mouth flared laterally, with a distinct notch at each
corner. Edges of jaws inside lips with hard, cartilaginous sheaths. Inguinal processes usually pres45
ent
Mouth large or small, but not flared laterally nor
notched at corners. Edges of jaws without hard,
cartilaginous sheaths. Inguinal processes usually
absent
47
41
43
-15. Dorsal tin-rays usually 9 (range, 8 to 10). Lower lip
deeply incised, with only 2 or 3 rows of papillae
crossing its midline. Pantosteus plebeius (Baird
and Girard), Rio Grande mountain-sucker.'
Dorsal fin-rays 10 to 12. Lower lip with more than
three rows of papillae crossing its midline, not
46
deeply incised
46. Predorsal scales typically more than 50 (44 to 75).
Caudal peduncle slender and pencil-like in specimens from mainstream Colorado River, thicker in
'Notropis renustus ( Girard), with eight anal fin-rays and a
large, conspicuous, basicaudal spot, has been introduced into
the Virgin River, Nevada.
186
JOURNAL OF THE ARIZONA ACADEMY OF
48. Predorsal scales fewer than 30. Upper lip thin, its
width at midline less than half length of eye.
Dorsal fin with II soft-rays, rarely 12. Catortnmus
hernardini Girard, Yaqui sucker.
Predorsal scales more than 30. Upper lip broad, its
width at midline more than half length of eye.
Dorsal fin with 11 to (rarely) 15 soft-rays, usually 12 or 13 ................................................. 49
49. Caudal peduncle conspicuously slender. Body coloration gray or sandy-brown, not obviously bicolored.
Calortomua latipinnis Baird and Girard, flannelmouth sucker.
Caudal peduncle thick. Body darkened above, light
below, conspicuously bicolored. Cainstomus species.
Little Colorado River sucker.
50.
51.
52.
Pre-maxillary band of teeth with lateral, backward
processes, forming a broad "IF with its open end
backward. Lower jaw projecting beyond upper.
Head flattened dorsoventrally; eyes dorsally placed,
small. Upper part of caudal fin whitened in young.
Filodictis olirarir Rafinesque, flathead catfish.*
PremaxiIlary band of teeth lacking lateral, backward
processes. Lower jaw shorter than upper, or jaws
almost equal in length. Head rounded, or higher
than wide; eyes dorsolateral and moderate to large
in si m Upper part of caudal fin never whitened 51
Caudal fin forked. Supraoccipital process extending
ba(k to form, or almost form, bony connection with
base of dorsal spine ............................................. 52
Caudal tin square, round, or slightly emarginate.
Supraoccipital process never forming a bony connection with base of dorsal spine . ................... 53
Anal fin-rays 24 to 29. Caudal fin deeply forked, the
distance from tip of shortest caudal fin-ray to tip
of longest contained fewer than six times in standard length. Ict.durus punctatur (Rafinesque), channel catfish.*
Anal fin-rays 23 to 25. Caudal fin shallowly forked,
the distance from tip of shortest caudal fin-ray to
tip of longest contained more than six times in
standard length. Iaa Lurks price; (Rutter), Yaqui
catfish.•
53.
Chin barbels white, lacking melanophores. Anal fin
low in front, so that anterior rays are little longer
than posterior ones. Icialurus natalis (LeSueur),
yellow bullhead.*
Chin barbels with melanophores, usually black, slategray, or brown. Anal fin high in front, anterior
fin-rays much longer than posterior ones .......... 54
54.
Body often mottled black on brown. Strong serrae on
posterior margins of pectoral spines. Fin mem-
Vol.
6
branes not conspicuously blackened. Caudal fin
those from Little Colorado River basin. Pantostrua
dircohnlus (Cope), bluehead mountain-sucker.
Predorsal scales usually fewer than 47 (as many as
52 in some specimens from Virgin River). Caudal
peduncle thickened in fish from all but Virgin
River, where sometimes thin. Pantorteus clarki
(Baird and Girard), Gila River mountain-sucker.
47. Scales in lateral line typically fewer than 60 (54 to
67). A spot present at base of each scale, forming
faint, dashed lines along dorsolateral surfaces.
Catortomus insignia Baird and Girard, Gila coarsescaled sucker.
Scales in lateral line usually more than 60. Spots
absent from base of scales .................................... 48
SCIENCt
base lacking a light-colored bar. Ictalairus nebulo(LeSueur), brown bullhead.*
Body never mottled. Serrae on posterior margins of
pectoral spines weak, often absent. Fin membranes
conspicuously blackened Light bar often present
at base of caudal fin. Icialurus me/as (Rafinesque),
black b u llhead.*
la I
55.
Maxillary bones forming part of border of upper
jaws. Family ESOCIDAE, Emig luciur Linnaeus,
northern pike.*
Maxillary bones not contributing to border of upper
jaws .................................................................... s6
56.
Third anal soft-ray branched and not greatly produced. Anal fin in male not produced into an
intromittent organ. Oviparous. Family CYPRINO-
DONTIDAE ................................................. 57
Third anal soft-ray unbranched and greatly produced
in male to form an intrornittent organ. Viviparous.
Family POECILIIDAE ................................... '9
57.
Jaw teeth conical. Fer. ale with a membranous oviducal pouch coven. . anterior base of anal fin.
Fundulus zebrinua Jordan and Gilbert. Rio Grande
killifish.*
Jaw teeth compressed, tricuspid. Female lacking an
oviducal pouch ..................................................... s8
58.
Dorsal body profile a smooth arch, not abruptly concave posterior to origin of dorsal fm. Breeding
male with posterior caudal peduncle and caudal
fin yellow to orange. Cwinodon maculariur Baird
and Girard, desert pupfish.
Dorsal body profile abruptly concave posterior to
dorsal fin base. Breeding male with posterior cau•
dal peduncle and caudal fin sometimes lightened.
hut rarely yellow or orange. Cyprinodon species,
Monkey Spring purfish.
59.
Jaw teeth arranged in a single series, or if in two
rows, inner teeth weak to greatly reduced ........... (5)
Jaw teeth arranged in villiform bands ...............
60. Gonopodium asymmetrical to the left; rays 3. 4. and
5 folded and twisted to form a trough-like stru,
ture. Large hooks and serrae absent on gonopodial
tip. Pelvic fins ef male unmodified, somewhat re-
duced. Body relatively elongated, rounded. Breeding males often Hackened owith orange fin bases (if
Gonopodium symmetrical; rays 3, 4, and 5 arranged
in a plane when fin relaxed. Large hooks and
serrae present on gonopodial tip. Pelvic fins of
male modified with fleshy appendage on distal
third of first, short, unbranched ray; rays 2 and
of pelvic fins elongated. Body elongated or chubby,
but typically compressed laterally. Breeding males
variously colored, but rarely black ...................... 62
61.
Gila River basin. Snout short, generally shorter than
length of orbit. Mouth sub-superior, almost terminal. Dark lateral band of female extending from
opercle to caudal fin base. Peritroct of female
blackened. Poeciliop.rie o. occidenialis (Baird and
Girard), Gila topminnow.
Rio Yaqui basin. Snout longer, generally longer than
length of orbit. Mouth superior. Lateral band of
female rarely developed anterior to pelvic bases,
diffuse. Peritroct of female rarely blackened.
Poeciliopsis o. aonoriensis ( Girard), Sonora top.
minnow.
I NCK LEY
February' 1971
--FISHES OF ARIZONA
operculum, exposed. Anal fin with three spines.
Family SERRANIDAE ................................... 69'
Pseudobranchiae, if present, small and concealed by
a membrane. Anal fin with three or more spines 71
62 Ventral rays of caudal- fin of -mature male produced
into a black-edged sword. Jaw teeth in a single
series. Gonopodium heavy; claw at tip of ray 5a
large, as large as hook of ray 3, distinctly scytheshaped. Distal serrae on ray 4p variable in development, hut usually small and blunted. Dorsal
fin-rays 11 to 17, typically 12 to 14. Xiphophorus
helleri Haekel, green swordtail.*
Ventral rays of caudal fin in mature males rounded,
or if slightly nroduced, lacking a darkened edge.
Jaw teeth in two series, the inner one greatly
reduced. Gonopodium lightly formed; claw at tip
of ray 5a lacking. Distal serrae on ray 4p well
developed. retrorse. Dorsal fin-rays 9 to 14,
typically fewer than 13. Xiphophorus variatus
( Meek), variable platyfish.*
63.
Dorsal fin-rays 8 to 10. Origin of dorsal fin well
behind origin of anal fin. Intestine short, with few
convolutions. Gonopodium lacking a large, fleshy
palp. Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard), mos-
69. Soft and spinous dorsal fins connected by a mem-
brane. Anal spines not graduated, second almost.
if not, equal in length to third. Jaws projecting
about equally. Sides marked by bold, discontinuois
stripes. Roans mississippiensis (Jordan and Eigerimann), yellow bass.*
•
Soft and spinous dorsal fins separated by a distinct
gap. Anal spines graduated, second much shorter
than third. Lower jaw projecting beyond upper.
Sides typically marked with bold, continuous
stripes ................................................................... 70
70.
Hyoid teeth in two parallel patches. Second anal
spine contained about live times in length of head.
ROCCUI saxatilis ( Walbaum), striped bass.'
Hyoid teeth in a single patch. Second Anil spine contained about three times in length of head. Roccur
chrysops (Rafinesque), white bass.*
71.
Two pairs of nares. Lower pharyngeal bones separated. Lateral-line pores arranged in a single series.
........ 7'
Family CENTRARCHIDAE
One pair of flares. Lower pharyngeal bones tusnl.
Lateral-line pores arranged in two series, the
anterior one higher on the side than the posterior.
Family CICHLIDAE
................82
72.
Spines in anal fin typically five or more lirandlio..... 73
stegal rays usually seven
Spines in anal fin typically three. Branchiostegal rays
usually six
.......... 75
73.
Rakers on first gill arch fewer than 15. Preopercle
entire, or at most, weakly serrated. Ambloplites
quitofish.*
Dorsal tin-rays 12 or more. Origin of dorsal fin over,
or in front of. origin of anal fin. Intestine long,
with many convolutions. Gonopodium with a large,
fleshy palp, rising from ventral surface of ray .. 64
64.
Ray 3 of gonopodium without processes on posterior
margin. Terminal hook of ray 3 weakly, or not at
all, developed. Posterior branch of ray 4 serrated
on posterior margin. Sexual dimorphism in size and
coloration marked. Lebistes retienlatus (Peters),
guppy. *
Ray 3 of gonopodium with long, more or less spinous
processes on posterior margin. Terminal hook of
ray i strongly developed. Posterior branch of ray 4
serrated, anterior branch smooth. Sexual dimorphism or
slightly developed, except for exaggerated dorsal fin in large males .......................... 65
rupestris
66.
67.
Pelvic tins abdominal or sub-abdominal. Pectoral fins
inserted high on sides, above median axis of body.
Scales cycloid. Family MITGILLIDAF. Muxil
cepb.dur Linnaeus, striped mullet.
Pelvic tins thoracic. Pectoral fins usually inserted
below median body axis. S:ale, ctenoid, or re•
dmed to small prickles
67°
74.
Dorsal fin spines 7 or 8. Length of dorsal tin ham'
equal to, or greater in length, than distance from
origin of dorsal fin to posterior rim of orbit.
Pomoxis nigromaculatur (LeSueur), black crappie.*
Dorsal fin spines usually six. Length of dorsal fin
base less than distance from origin of dorsal fin
to posterior rim of orbit. Pomoxis annularis
Rafinesque, white crappie.*
75.
Scales in lateral line 55 to 81. Body elongate and
rounded ................................................................. 76
Scales in lateral line fewer than 54. Body deep and
compressed laterally
76.
Dorsal fin deeply marginate. appearing often as separate spinous and soft-rayed portions. Maxillary
bones extending to distinctly behind eye in adults.
Membranes of soft dorsal and anal fins almost
always scaleless. Pyloric caecae branched basally.
Aficropterus salmoidec ( LacEp6de), largemouth
bass.*
Anal tin with three or more true spines ..... ....... 68
83
Anal tin with none. 1, or 2 true spines
68 Pseudohranchiae well developed on inner surface of
--------
'Two sciaenid genera,
Roecus amerieanus (Gmelin), the white perch, was introduced near Buckeye. Arizona, in the late 1960s. but appears
to have disappeared without reproducing.
'Sacramento perch, Archopliter interruptus (Girard), which
would key to here, has been introduced near Buckeye, Arizona, but has apparently not reproduced.
'
and a 1)0111:1dasyid,
(Steindachner), were recently introduced into a borrow pit at Painted Rock Reservoir.
Arizona, hut were apparently unable to establish populations.
Cyr:on-ion
Anistoremus dauidsoni
and
Bairdiella,
(Rafinc-sque), rockbass.*
Rakers on first gill .arch more than 25. Preopenie
finely serrated
..... •- 74*
6s Dorsal fin-rays 13 to 16, usually 14 to to. Sides
marked with rows of parallel dashes. Dorsal fin
greatly expanded in large, adult, breeding males.
Poecdia hdipinn,t (LeSueur) , sail fin molly.*
Dorsal fin-rays fewer than 14, typically fewer than
12. Sides only faintly marked with rows of dots.
often unmarked. Dorsal fin expanded in large
males, but not sail-like. Poecilia nzexicand Steindachner, Mexican molly.*
187
188
JOURNAL OF THE ARIZONA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
Dorsal fin shallowly emarginate, spinous and softrayed portions obviously connected. Maxilla rarely
extending past hind margin of eye, usually much
shorter. Membranes of soft dorsal and anal fins
with minute scales. Pyloric caecae almost never
77
branched basally
77.
78.
Scale rows above lateral line 12 or 13; 20 to 23
rows below lateral line. Scales around caudal
peduncle 29 to 31. Color olivaceous in adults;
young with vertical bars or broad blotches, with
light-colored centers. Micropterus dolomieui Lacepecle, smallmouth bass.*
Scale rows above lateral line 7 to 10; 14 to 19 rows
below lateral line. Scales around caudal peduncle
24 or 25. Color darker above, lighter below, in
adults, with broken lateral band of usuallyconfluent, not vertically elongated, blotches. Young
with lateral blotches and a prominant basicaudal
spot. Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque), spotted bass.•
81.
Opercle with small, red, semicircular spot near
posterior margin. Pectoral fin short, its length 3.0
to 3.3 in standard length in adults. Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus), pumpkinseed sunfish.*
Opercle broadly margined with scarlet. Pectoral fin
long, 2.7 to 3.0 in standard length in adults.
Lepomis microlophus ( Gunther), redear sunfish.*
82.
Anal spines typically 5 or 6. Scales in lateral line 30
or fewer. Sides marked with 8 or 9 vertically
oriented, dark bars. Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum
( Gunther), convict cichlid.*
Anal spines three. Scales in lateral line 30 to 33.
Sides marked with 6 or 7 irregular, vertically
oriented, diffuse bars.
Tilapia mossambica
(Peters), Mossambique tilapia.*
83.
Anal spines absent. Second suborbital bone with a
definite connection to preopercular bone. Family
COTTIDAE. Coitus bairdi Girard, mottled scul-
pin.•
Anal spines present. Second suborbital bone without
84
connection to preopercular bone
warmouth.•
79.
Opercle extending backward as a thin, flexible flap,
usually fimbriate posteriorly. Lepomis macrochirus
Rafinesque, bluegill.*
Opercle stiff to its bony margin, non-firnbriate
80
80.
Supramaxillary bone well developed, its length about
2/3 greatest width of maxillary bone. Gill rakers
long, reaching when depressed to base of second
or third raker below; even longer in young.
Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, green sunfish.*
Supramaxillary bone about 1/3 width of maxillary
6
bone. Gill rakers shorter, reaching when depressed
81
scarcely to base of second raker below
Teeth present on tongue, ectoptergoids, and entopterygoids. Supramaxillary bone longer than width
of maxillary bone. Chaenobrystus gulosus (Cuvier),
Teeth absent from tongue and pterygoid bones.
SupramaxrIlary bone shorter than width of maxillary bone
79
Vol.
•
84.
Dorsal spines flexible, not sharp to touch. One anal
spine. Head heavily scaled over dorsum, to upper
lip. Family ELEOTRIDAE. Eleotris pieta Kner
and Steindachner, spotted sleeper.
Dorsal spines stiff and sharp. Two slender anal
spines. Head scaled, but not conspicuously so,
over dorsurn. Family PERCIDAE
85
85.
Canine teeth present. Lateral line extending well
onto caudal fin, with supplementary canals developed above and below the major canal. Jtizostedion v. vitreum (Mitchill), walleye.*
Canine teeth absent. lateral line extending little, if
at all, past base of caudal fin. Perca F. flavescens
( Mitchill), yellow perch.*