North Carolina is home to nearly 200 native species of freshwater fish. Of these, approximately 25% are designated Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern within the state. The Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program strives to prevent species from becoming endangered through maintaining viable, self-sustaining populations of native wildlife, with an emphasis on species in decline. Public education is a major component of this effort. The following pages provide detailed information about North Carolina's Endangered freshwater fish species. The following are definitions of each status:

  • "Endangered" status includes any native species whose continued existence as a viable component of the state's fauna is determined to be in jeopardy and/or is designated "Endangered" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.
  • A status of "Threatened" includes any native species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the state and/or is designated "Threatened" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.
  • The "Special Concern" designation applies to any species that is determined to require monitoring.

Make a selection below to learn more about endangered fish.

Species Information Species Information
External Anatomy External Anatomy
references References

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


External Fish Anatomy

Illustration by W.C. Starnes

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References

Alderman, J.M. 1997. Spotfin chub. Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Fauna of North Carolina. Editors E.F. Menhinik and A.L. Braswell. Occasional Papers of the North Carolina Museum of Natural History and the North Carolina Biological Survey Vol. 11:9. Raleigh, North Carolina.

Etnier, D. A. and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The Fishes of Tennessee. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. 681 pp.

McLarney, W.O. 1988. Behavioral observations of the spotfin chub, Hybopsis monacha, in the Little Tennessee River with emphasis on reproductive behavior. Report to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program.

Menhinick, E. F. 1991. The Freshwater Fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 227 pp.

Menhinick, E. F. and A. L. Braswell. 1997. Endangered, threatened, and rare fauna of North Carolina Part IV. A reevaluation of the freshwater fishes. Occasional Papers of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the North Carolina Biological Survey. Number 11. 106 pp.

Shute J.R. 1997. Waccamaw silverside. Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Fauna of North Carolina. Editors E.F. Menhinik and A.L. Braswell. Occasional Papers of the North Carolina Museum of Natural History and the North Carolina Biological Survey Vol. 11:11. Raleigh, North Carolina.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1991. Endangered and threatened species. Southeast United States. "The Red Book"; Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia.

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