List of fishes of Tennessee

The list of fishes of Tennessee comprises a highly diverse ichthyofauna, reflecting the state's varied aquatic habitats, which include the Mississippi River basin, the Cumberland River system, the Tennessee River system, and the Conasauga River (part of the Mobile Basin). Tennessee is recognized as having one of the most diverse freshwater fish assemblages in North America, with approximately 320 to 330 native and established non-native species documented.

Major Drainage Basins

The composition of fish communities varies significantly across the state's primary drainage basins:

• Tennessee River Basin: Covers East Tennessee and parts of Middle Tennessee. Characterized by high endemism, particularly in the Ridge and Valley and Blue Ridge physiographic provinces.
• Cumberland River Basin: Drains the Cumberland Plateau and parts of the Highland Rim. Shares many species with the Tennessee Basin but possesses distinct endemic forms.
• Mississippi River Basin: Includes the Mississippi River mainstem and its western tributaries (e.g., Hatchie, Obion, Forked Deer Rivers) in West Tennessee. Fauna is characteristic of the Lower Mississippi and Gulf Coastal Plain.
• Conasauga River System: A small portion in southeastern Tennessee (Polk County) belonging to the Mobile Basin, hosting several federally listed species not found elsewhere in the state.

Taxonomic Diversity

The fauna is dominated by several families:

• Cyprinidae (Minnows and Carp): The most species-rich family, including numerous shiners (Notropis, Cyprinella), chubs (Nocomis, Semotilus), and the invasive Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix).
• Percidae (Perches and Darters): Tennessee is a global center of diversity for the subfamily Etheostomatinae (darters). Genera include Etheostoma, Percina, and Ammocrypta. The Logperch (Percina caprodes) and Snubnose Darter (Etheostoma simoterum) are widespread; numerous narrow-range endemics exist (e.g., Barrens Darter Etheostoma forbesi, Bluemask Darter Etheostoma akatulo).
• Catostomidae (Suckers): Includes genera Moxostoma (redhorses), Catostomus, Hypentelium (hogsuckers), and Ictiobus (buffalofishes).
• Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes): Includes the Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), and numerous madtoms (Noturus spp.), several of which are state or federally listed (e.g., Yellowfin Madtom Noturus flavipinnis, Smoky Madtom Noturus baileyi).
• Centrarchidae (Sunfishes and Basses): Includes Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris), and various sunfishes (Lepomis spp.).
• Salmonidae (Trouts): Native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations persist in high-elevation, cold-water streams of the Appalachian Mountains. Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) are widely stocked and established.

Notable Species Categories

Endemic and Near-Endemic Species

Several species have ranges restricted largely or entirely to Tennessee river systems:

• Barrens Topminnow (Fundulus julisia): Restricted to the Barrens Plateau region.
• Citico Darter (Etheostoma sitikuense): Endemic to the Little Tennessee River system.
• Cumberland Darter (Etheostoma susanae): Upper Cumberland River drainage.
• Tennessee Dace (Chrosomus tennesseensis): Ridge and Valley streams.

Federally Listed Species (Threatened/Endangered)

Tennessee hosts a significant number of federally protected fish species under the Endangered Species Act, including:

• Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) – Endangered (Mississippi River).
• Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) – Endangered (state listing; federal candidate historically, active restoration programs ongoing).
• Spotfin Chub (Erimonax monachus) – Threatened (Tennessee River system).
• Boulder Darter (Etheostoma wapiti) – Endangered (Elk River system).
• Yellowfin Madtom (Noturus flavipinnis) – Threatened.
• Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) – Endangered.
• Conasauga Logperch (Percina jenkinsi) – Endangered (Conasauga River).

Introduced and Invasive Species

Several non-native species have established reproducing populations:

• Asian Carps: Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) are established in the Mississippi River and lower reaches of tributaries.
• Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio): Ubiquitous statewide.
• Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) & Brown Trout (Salmo trutta): Established in numerous cold tailwaters and mountain streams.
• Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus): Introduced widely outside native range.
• Alabama Bass (Micropterus henshalli): Expanding range in Tennessee River reservoirs, hybridizing with Smallmouth Bass.

Conservation and Management

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is the primary state authority managing fish populations, regulating fishing seasons/limits, and conducting surveys. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) leads recovery efforts for federally listed species. Major conservation challenges include habitat fragmentation by dams (impoundments altering riverine habitat to lacustrine), sedimentation from agriculture and development, water quality degradation, and the spread of invasive species (particularly Asian carps and Alabama Bass).

Key references for the definitive taxonomic list include The Fishes of Tennessee (Etnier and Starnes, 1993) and subsequent updates published by TWRA and the American Fisheries Society.