Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge
Midwest Region

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Mark Twain NWR Complex

Port Louisa NWR
Great River/Clarence Cannon NWR
Two Rivers NWR
Middle Mississippi River NWR

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Duck Stamp photo

2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest

Links

Phone: 217-224-8580
V/TTY: 800-526-0844
Address:
1704 North 24th Street
Quincy, IL 62301

There are more than 150 species of fish present in the Mississippi River. Gizzard shad, common carp, and emerald shiner are the three most common species found river-wide; about 50 other species are very common in certain pools or reaches. The Upper Mississippi River still hosts most of the species that were present historically, but the abundance and distribution of some species has declined dramatically in the last 100 years due to loss of habitat. Some of the causes of these changes are dam construction that blocks fish movement up and down river, flood control levees that keep fish out of their historic spawning habitat, and sedimentation that covers gravel bars, fills wetlands and reduces deepwater habitat.

Photo of a spotted gar - Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Brian Montague
Photo of a black crappie - Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Eric Engbretson Photo of a channel catfish - Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Eric Engbretson
Top: Spotted gar   |   Left: Black crappie   |   Right: Channel catfish

The recent introduction of several invasive species of Asian carp (bighead, silver, and grass) to the system has added a new assault to the aquatic resources of the Upper Mississippi River. Fisheries biologists believe that these species may be more threatening than the common carp because they compete more directly with native fish and mussels for food and habitat.

Mussels

Freshwater mussels are typically found buried in the river bottom in groups containing several different species with similar habitat requirements. Many require flowing water and coarse gravelly substrate, although some survive well in silty lake-like conditions found in backwaters. Mussels serve as good indicators of ecosystem health because they live a long time, stay in one place, and depend on good water quality to survive. They also need fish in order to complete their life cycle. In the past, freshwater mussels were heavily harvested to make buttons; today they are valuable in the cultured pearl industry.

Many mussel species in the Upper Mississippi River are declining due to sedimentation, poor water quality, and the introduction of invasive zebra mussels. Historically, 51 species of freshwater mussels lived in the UMRS; 44 have been found in mussel surveys conducted in the last 35 years. Three species historically present in the Mark Twain reach of the river are now federally listed as endangered: Higgins eye, fat pocketbook, and winged mapleleaf. The scaleshell is a candidate for listing.

This link opens in a new windowPlease visit this link for more information on mussels and a list of species found on the Upper Mississippi River.

Fish

Legend

The following list contains over 100 species that have been observed on the refuge.

E = Endangered
T = Threatened
(F) = Federally Threatened or Endangered
(IA) = Iowa Threatened or Endangered
(IL) = Illinois Threatened or Endangered
(MO) = Missouri Threatened or Endangered

Bass Family

  • Bass, Striped

  • Bass, White

  • Bass, Yellow

Bowfin Family

  • Bowfin

Catfish Family

  • Bullhead, Black

  • Bullhead, Brown

  • Bullhead, Yellow

  • Catfish, Blue

  • Catfish, Channel

  • Catfish, Flathead

  • Madtom, Freckled E (IA)

  • Madtom, Tadpole

  • Stonecat

Cod Family

  • Burbot T (IA)

  • Perch, Pirate

Drums

  • Drum, Freshwater

Eels

  • Eel, American

Gar

  • Gar, Longnose

  • Gar, Shortnose

  • Gar, Spotted

Herring Family

  • Herring, Skipjack

  • Shad, Gizzard

  • Shad, Threadfin

Killifish Family

  • Topminnow, Blackstripe

  • Topminnow, Starhead

Lampreys

  • Lamprey, Chestnut T (IA)

  • Lamprey, Silver

Minnows

  • Carp, Bighead

  • Carp, Common

  • Carp, Grass

  • Chub, Creek

  • Chub, Flathead E (MO)

  • Chub, Sicklefin E (IL)

  • Chub, Silver

  • Chub, Speckled

  • Chub, Sturgeon E (IL)

  • Dace, Southern Redbelly

  • Goldfish

  • Minnow, Bluntnose

  • Minnow, Bullhead

  • Minnow, Fathead

  • Minnow, Mississippi Silvery

  • Minnow, Plains

  • Minnow, Pugnose

  • Minnow, Suckermouth

  • Minnow, Western Silvery

  • Shiner, Emerald

  • Shiner, Ghost

  • Shiner, Golden

  • Shiner, Mimic

  • Shiner, Pallid

  • Shiner, Red

  • Shiner, River

  • Shiner, Sand

  • Shiner, Silverband

  • Shiner, Spotfin

  • Shiner, Spottail

  • Shiner, Weed E (IA, IL)

Mooneye Family

  • Goldeye

  • Mooneye

Mosquitofish

  • Mosquitofish, Western

Mudminnows

  • Mudminnow, Central E (MO)

Paddlefish

  • Paddlefish

Perch Family

  • Darter, Bluntnose E (IA)

  • Darter, Crystal E (MO)

  • Darter, Iowa E (IL)

  • Darter, Johnny

  • Darter, Mud

  • Darter, River

  • Darter, Slenderhead

  • Darter, Western Sand T (IL)

  • Logperch

  • Perch, Yellow

  • Sauger

  • Walleye

Pike Family

  • Muskellunge

  • Pickeral, Grass T (IA)

  • Pike, Northern

Silversides

  • Silverside, Brook

  • Silverside, Inland

Sturgeons

  • Sturgeon, Lake E (IA, IL, MO)

  • Sturgeon, Pallid E (F, IA, IL, MO)

  • Sturgeon, Shovelnose

Stickelbacks

  • Stickelback, Brook

Suckers

  • Buffalo, Bigmouth

  • Buffalo, Black

  • Buffalo, Smallmouth

  • Carpsucker, Highfin

  • Carpsucker, River

  • Quillback

  • Redhorse, Golden

  • Redhorse, Shorthead

  • Redhorse, Silver T (IL)

  • Sucker, Blue

  • Sucker, Spotted

  • Sucker, White

Sunfish Family

  • Bass, Largemouth

  • Bass, Rock

  • Bass, Smallmouth

  • Bluegill

  • Crappie, Black

  • Crappie, White

  • Pumpkinseed

  • Sunfish, Green

  • Sunfish, Orangespotted

  • Warmouth

Trout-perch

  • Trout-perch





 

Last updated: July 16, 2008