Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: FLIER

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: CENTRARCHIDAE

Genus: CENTRARCHUS

Species: MACROPTERUS

Taxonomic Authority: (LACEPEDE)

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

GAME
STATE RANK S3
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 003 , 011 , 015

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits swamps, streams, ditches and borrow pits with clear water, dense vegetation and little or no current."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References:

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in southeast lowlands. Is uncommon and sporadic in distribution, largest populations at Duck Creek and Mingo *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BOLLINGER DUNKLIN CARTER ADAIR
BUTLER PEMISCOT ANDREW
CAPE GIRARDEAU SCOTT ATCHISON
MISSISSIPPI AUDRAIN
NEW MADRID BARRY
RIPLEY BARTON
STODDARD BATES
WAYNE BENTON
BOONE
BUCHANAN
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CARROLL
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 006 , 007 , 010

Distribution by Watersheds

Castor R. and Castor R. Diversion Channel
St. John's Ditch and Blue Ditch
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Current R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Lacustrine
Palustrine
Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Lacustrine"
"Palustrine", "Forested, broad-leaved deciduous",
"Riverine, lower perennial"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 006 , 008

Habitat Types:

Swamp
Pond, Lake, Reservoir
Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 001 , 006 , 008 , 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Wetland
Swamps
Swamp
Pond Swamp

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 001 , 007 , 008

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Hemiptera (water bugs, water boatmen, stink bugs); Not Specified
Coleoptera (beetles); Not Specified
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Not Specified
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
Branchiopods (Daphnia, Cladocera); Not Specified
Ostracods (Eucypris); Not Specified
Copepods (Cyclops, Calanus); Not Specified
Ephemeroptera (mayflies); Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits 008

Adult Food Habits

Hemiptera (water bugs, water boatmen, stink bugs); Not Specified
Coleoptera (beetles); Not Specified
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Not Specified
Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Not Specified
Perciformes (bass, sunfishes, perches, drums, sculpins); Not Specified
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
See comments on seasonal variation; Not Specified
Branchiopods (Daphnia, Cladocera); Not Specified
Copepods (Cyclops, Calanus); Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 008

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: borrow pit

References for feeding larvae niche requirements: 001 , 008

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Inland wetlands: borrow pit
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream

References for resting Larvae niche requirements: 001 , 008

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: borrow pit

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 008

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Big river habitat: backwaters
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 008 , 013

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: borrow pit

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 008

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Inland wetlands: borrow pit
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008 , 014

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Aquatic vegetation
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Inland wetlands: borrow pit
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 007 , 008

Niche Requirement Summary

Aquatic vegetation
Big river habitat: backwaters
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Density of aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00130)
Gradient: low
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Inland wetlands: borrow pit
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: pond, lake, reservoir
Inland wetlands: swamp
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Water level: permanently flooded
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
012 In southeast MO, gravid females collected from stagnant to free-flowing water *008*.
022 Mature at about 70 mm long and 1 year of age. *008*
024 Equal sex ratio at birth, followed by heavy preponderance of females *008*.
038 Annulus forms once a year (January-May), no growth in winter *008*. Females grow larger and faster, and live longer than males *008*. In southeast MO, attain length of about 2.2" by end of 1st year and average 3.9, 5.2, 6.2, 7.1, 7.6, and 7.8" in succeeding years *008*. Condition increased sharply in March with rapid decline in April (post spawning), increased again and peaked in May, after which decreased to low in August. Sharp increase in September, followed by decline as winter approached *008*.
018 Number of eggs/female range 4412-48,254, average 14,449. *008*
007 Spawn during short period in April (10-14 days) in southeast MO *008*.

Life History Information

Periodicity: active in day
Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: stalking
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site: standing water
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)
Sex ratio specified in comments(024)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
012 In southeast MO, gravid females collected from stagnant to free-flowing water *008*.
022 Mature at about 70 mm long and 1 year of age. *008*
024 Equal sex ratio at birth, followed by heavy preponderance of females *008*.
038 Annulus forms once a year (January-May), no growth in winter *008*. Females grow larger and faster, and live longer than males *008*. In southeast MO, attain length of about 2.2" by end of 1st year and average 3.9, 5.2, 6.2, 7.1, 7.6, and 7.8" in succeeding years *008*. Condition increased sharply in March with rapid decline in April (post spawning), increased again and peaked in May, after which decreased to low in August. Sharp increase in September, followed by decline as winter approached *008*.
018 Number of eggs/female range 4412-48,254, average 14,449. *008*
007 Spawn during short period in April (10-14 days) in southeast MO *008*.

References for life history: 001 , 008 , 009

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Regulate harvest of species being described
Water - develop/maintain wetlands
Water - control pollution (thermal, physical, chemical)

Beneficial Management References: 001 , 006 , 008

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - dredging and filling
Water - navigational improvements (channelization, dams, locks)
Water - stream channelization
Water - drainage of wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes

Adverse Management References: 001 , 008

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
007 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Distribution Records. Mo Dept. Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo. 65201.
008 Unpb Conley, J.M. 1966. Ecology Of The Flier, Centrarchus Macropterus (Lacepede) In Southeast Missouri. M.A. Thesis, Univ. Mo, Columbia, 119pp.
009 Stewart, E.M. and T.R. Finger. 1985. Diel Activity Patterns Of Fishes In Lowland Hardwood Wetlands. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 19:5-9.
010 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
011 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferoson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
012 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
013 Sheehan, R.J., W.M. Lewis and L.R. Bodensteiner. 1990. Winter Habitat Requirements And Overwintering Of Riverine Fishes. S. Il Fisheries Res. Lab., Carbondale, Il. D-J Project F-79-R, Study 101. 234 Pp.
014 Unpb Tibbs, J.E. 1995. Habitat Use By Small Fishes In The Lower Mississippi River Related To Foraging By Least Terns (Sterna Altillarum). M.S. Thesis, Univ. Of Missouri-Columbia. 184 Pp.
015 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.