Distribution of Fishes in the Red River of the North Basin on Multivariate Environmental Gradients

Cyprinidae

Mimic Shiner

Notropis volucellus (Cope), the mimic shiner, was first collected in the Red River basin from the Mud River (Red Lake River) by Deason and Nelson in 1938 (UMMZ 1994) (Figure A37). The mimic shiner was collected at 11 sites on the Otter Tail River and two sites on the Pelican River in 1955 (BMNH 1994) and has been found at several locations on these streams. It has also been reported from the Buffalo, Clearwater, and Middle Rivers and the Wild Rice River in Minnesota. In the 1970s, the mimic shiner was abundant in samples, with site collections of 50 individuals common; and as many as 445 specimens were collected at the outlet of Many Point Lake (Otter Tail River) in 1976. Despite intensive sampling, the species has been found at only four sites on the Otter Tail River since 1976. The mimic shiner occurred at Phelps and below Orwell Reservoir in 1980, where six specimens were collected at each site, and at the outlet of Otter Tail Lake and Cotton Lake in 1991, where a single specimen was collected at each site.

Figure A37. Distribution of the mimic shiner in streams of the Red River of the North basin.

Previous Section -- Cyprinidae - Weed Shiner
Return to Species List
Next Section -- Cyprinidae - Redbelly Dace