Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: TOPMINNOW, PLAINS

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: ATHERINIFORMES

Family: CYPRINODONTIDAE

Genus: FUNDULUS

Species: SCIADICUS

Taxonomic Authority: COPE

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S3
GLOBAL RANK G4

Status References: 013 , 005 , 011

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits oxbows, sloughs, backwaters and pools of streams with clear, quiet water and dense beds of submergent vegetation."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in the northwest Ozarks and in southwest Missouri *01*."

County Occurance

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

References for distribution: 001 , 003 , 004

Distribution by Watersheds

Meramec R.
Osage R. from Warsaw to Bagnell Dam
Osage R. from Bagnell Dam to Mo. R.
Gasconade R. from Headwaters to Big Piney R.
Big Piney R.
Gasconade R. from Big Piney R. to Mo. R.
Mo. R. from Little Chariton R. to Gasconade R.
Lamine R.
Mo. R. from Gasconade R. to Miss. R.
Spring R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: Elk River
Ozark: White River
Ozark: Lower Ozark

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, unknown perennial"
"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Aquatic bed, unknown submergent"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 001 , 006

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Omnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Food Habits Unknown; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)

References for egg niches requirements: 001 , 008

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Natural features: pools

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Aquatic vegetation: algae

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Elevation 501-1000'
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: second order stream
Stream order: third order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 010

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: second order stream
Stream order: third order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 010

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: second order stream
Stream order: third order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 012

Niche Requirement Summary

Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Aquatic vegetation: algae
Current velocity: no noticable current
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Elevation 501-1000'
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Natural features: pools
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: second order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: third order stream
Turbidity: clear water
Water level: permanently flooded
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *04*
099 Occurs singly or in small groups *01*
007 In MO, spawn in May and June *01*
017 Incubation 8-10 days in water approximately 70 degrees F *08*
038 Adults commonly 1.5-2.5", to maximum of about 2.8" *01*

Life History Information

Dispersion: clumped dispersion
Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy specified in comments(004)
Foraging sites: water
Foraging sites: feed at surface of water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site: standing water
Spawning site: aquatic vegetation
Gestation/incubation period specified in comments(017)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *04*
099 Occurs singly or in small groups *01*
007 In MO, spawn in May and June *01*
017 Incubation 8-10 days in water approximately 70 degrees F *08*
038 Adults commonly 1.5-2.5", to maximum of about 2.8" *01*

References for life history: 001 , 008

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - control sedimentation
Water - develop/maintain streamside vegetation
Water - stabilize streambanks
Agricultural - control erosion

Beneficial Management References: 004

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - control aquatic plants

Adverse Management References: 004

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 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28, Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
004 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
005 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
006 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
007 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
008 Mayer, F. 1931. Fundulus Sciadicus. Aquatic Life 15(2):40,57.(Cited In Ref. No. 1)
009 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
010 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Collection Records. Mo Dept Of Conservation, 1110 College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. 573-882-9880.
011 Rare And Endangered Species Checklist Of Missouri. 1997. MO Dept. Of Conservation. Natural Heritage Database. 33 Pp.
012 Smale, M.A. and C.F. Rabeni. 1995. Hypoxia And Hyperthermia Tolerances Of Headwater Stream Fishes. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 124:698-710.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.