Freshwater fishes of southern Florida

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the first systematic study of the distribution of fishes in southern Florida's fresh waters. Prior to this study, the known ranges of many fishes at the southern tip of Florida were either poorly understood or in error. The presence of 92 species of fishes in fresh water is documented for extreme southern Florida. The status and distribution of the fishes and the ecological factors that affect them are discussed.

Individual species accounts describe each fish's range in southern Florida and provide life history and ecological data. Locations and descriptions of collection sites, an artificial key to juvenile Lepomis species, and a bibliography of southern Florida freshwater fishes are included.

This study produced records for several species, such as Carcharhinus leucas, Floridichthys carpio, Fundulus similis, and Agonostomus monticola, that were not well known from southern Florida fresh waters. It also documents freshwater penetration by nine euryhaline species that were not listed from fresh water by Robins et aI. (1980): Adinia xenica, Floridichthys carpio, Fundulus similis, Epinephelus itaiara, Caranx hippos, Oligoplites saurus, Sphyraena barracuda, Gobionellus smaragdus, and Lophogobius cyprinoides. The centrarchids Lepomis gulosus and Lepomis punctatus were collected at their highest recorded salinity, 12.5 ⁰/₀₀. New distributional data have extended the known freshwater ranges of 15 species into extreme southern Florida. Records for freshwater occurrence or persistence by 11 species in southern Florida are regarded as erroneous or dubious. The presence of 12 non-native species is documented, one of which, Cichlasoma citrinellum, is a recent introduction.

Distinct distributional patterns exist for several groups of species: Iarge centrarchids occur primarily in canals, cypress sloughs, and headwater rivers; most euryhaline species do not penetrate far inland; the majority of exotic species are most numerous in the canal system; and many small cyprinodontoids are widely distributed in all habitats. The relative abundance of fish species usually varies among habitats.

All native primary and secondary freshwater fish species in southern Florida are derived from temperate North American waters. Most are widespread in the southeastern United States. All established non-native species originated in tropical or subtropical regions.