Of Time and the River
Fish found at Illinois valley archaeological sites from the last 9000 years
 

  Fish found at Illinois valley archaeological sites from the last 9000 years

Abbreviations for current status:
Extinct = The species no longer exists anywhere
SE = State endangered
ER = Extirpated from state of Illinois
ST = State threatened
FE = Federally endangered
FT = Federally threatened
NON = Non-native
IWL = On the Illinois watch list as a species of concern (species needing concentrated conservation action of some sort ranging from monitoring to consideration for listing).
FR = Fish found in Forbes and Richardson survey of the entire Illinois River basin.
Presence of fish in archaeological assemblages is denoted by UP, NC, SC, or L (these designate the portion of the river in which the site is located):
UP = Upper reach of the Illinois River
NC = North-central reach
SC = South-central reach
L = Lower Illinois River valley

Scientific name Common name Present day (2000+) 1876-1903 Late Pre-colonial Oneota Mississ ippian Woodland Middle & Late Archaic Early Archaic
Lamprey family Family Petromyzontidae                
Ohio lamprey Ichthyomyzon bdellium ER              
Chestnut lamprey Ichthyomyzon castaneus   FR            
Northern brook lamprey Ichthyomyzon fossor SE              
Silver lamprey Ichthyomyzon unicuspis   FR            
Least brook lamprey Lampetra aepyptera ST              
American brook lamprey Lampetra appendix                
Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus NON              
Sturgeon family Family Acipenseridae         NC NC    
Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens SE FR            
Pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus FE              
Shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus   FR     NC      
Paddlefish family Family Polyodontidae                
Paddlefish Polyodon spathula   FR       NC L    
Gar family Family Lepisosteidae                
Alligator gar Atractosteus spatula ER FR     SC      
Spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus   FR            
Longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus   FR   SC NC NC L NC L  
Shortnose gar Lepisosteus platostomus   FR     NC SC NC L NC L  
  Lepistosteus spp.     L SC NC SC L NC L NC L L
Bowfin family Family Amiidae                
Bowfin Amia calva   FR L SC NC SC L NC L NC L L
Mooneye family Family Hiodontidae                
Goldeye Hiodon alosoides   FR            
Mooneye Hiodon tergisus   FR            
Freshwater eel family Family Anguillidae                
American eel Anguilla rostrata   FR            
Herring family Family Clupeidae                
Alabama shad Alosa alabamae                
Skipjack herring Alosa chrysochloris   ?            
Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus NON              
Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum   FR       L    
Threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense NON              
Minnow family Family Cyprinidae         SC L L  
Central Stoneroller Campostoma anomalum   FR            
Largescale stoneroller Campostoma oligolepis IWL              
  Campostomasp.           L    
Goldfish Carassius auratus NON              
Lake chub Couesius plumbeus                
Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella NON              
Red shiner Cyprinella lutrensis   FR            
Spotfin shiner Cyprinella spiloptera   FR            
Blacktail shiner Cyprinella venusta                
Steelcolor shiner Cyprinella whipplii                
Common carp Cyprinus carpio NON FR            
Silverjaw minnow Ericymba buccata                
Gravel chub Erimystax x-punctatus ST              
Western silvery minnow Hybognathus argyritis                
Brassy minnow Hybognathus hankinsoni                
Cypress minnow Hybognathus hayi SE              
Mississippi silvery minnow Hybognathus nuchalis IWL FR            
Plains minnow Hybognathus placitus                
Bigeye chub Hybopsis amblops SE              
Pallid shiner Hybopsis amnis SE              
Silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix NON              
Bighead carp Aristichtyes nobilis NON              
Striped shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus   FR            
Common shiner Luxilus cornutus                
Rosefin shiner Lythrurus ardens ER              
Ribbon shiner Lythrurus fumeus                
Redfin shiner Lythrurus umbratilis   FR            
Speckled chub Macrhybopsis aestivalis   FR            
Sturgeon chub Macrhybopsis gelida SE              
Sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki                
Silver chub Macrhybopsis storeriana   FR            
Hornyhead chub Nocomis biguttatus   FR            
River chub Nocomis micropogon SE              
Golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas   FR            
Pugnose shiner Notropis anogenus SE              
Emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides   FR            
River shiner Notropis blennius   FR            
Bigeye shiner Notropis boops SE FR            
Ghost shiner Notropis buchanani   FR            
Ironcolor shiner Notropis chalybaeus ST              
Bigmouth shiner Notropis dorsalis   FR            
Blackchin shiner Notropis heterodon ST FR            
Blacknose shiner Notropis heterolepis SE FR            
Spottail shiner Notropis hudsonius   FR            
Taillight shiner Notropis maculatus SE              
Ozark minnow Notropis nubilus IWL              
Rosyface shiner Notropis rubellus   FR            
Silverband shiner Notropis shumardi                
Sand shiner Notropis stramineus   FR            
Weed shiner Notropis texanus SE FR            
Mimic shiner Notropis volucellus                
  Notropis spp.         SC L    
Pugnose minnow Opsopoeodus emiliae   FR            
Suckermouth minnow Phenacobius mirabilis   FR            
Southern redbelly dace Phoxinus erythrogaster   FR            
Bluntnose minnow Pimephales notatus   FR            
Fathead minnow Pimephales promelas   FR            
Bullhead minnow Pimephales vigilax   FR            
Flathead chub Platygobio gracilis IWL              
Bluehead shiner Pteronotropis hubbsi SE              
Blacknose dace Rhinichthys atratulus   FR            
Longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae                
Rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus NON              
Creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus   FR            
  Campostoma anomalum xPhoxinus erythrogaster   FR            
Loach family Family Cobitidae NON              
Oriental weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus NON              
Sucker family Family Catostomidae       SC NC SC L NC L NC L L
River carpsucker Carpiodes carpio   FR            
Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus   FR       L L  
Highfin carpsucker Carpiodes velifer   FR            
  Carpiodes sp.           NC L    
Longnose sucker Catostomus catostomus ST              
White sucker Catostomus commersoni   FR       L L  
Blue sucker Cycleptus elongatus   FR            
Creek chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus   FR            
Lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta   FR            
  Erimyzon sp.         L L    
Northern hog sucker Hypentelium nigricans   FR       L    
Smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus   FR       L L  
Bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus   FR     NC NC L L  
Black buffalo Ictiobus niger   FR     L L L  
  Ictiobus bubalusorniger       SC NC NC L L  
  Ictiobus cyprinellusorniger             L  
  Ictiobusspp.       SC NC SC NC L L  
  Carpiodes cyprinus orIctiobus cyprinellus             L  
  Carpiode orIctiobus           L L  
Spotted sucker Minytrema melanops   FR       L L  
Silver redhorse Moxostoma anisurum   FR     NC NC    
River redhorse Moxostoma carinatum ST FR       L    
Black redhorse Moxostoma duquesnei   FR       NC    
Golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum   FR     NC NC L    
Harelip sucker Moxostoma lacerum Extinct              
Shorthead redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum   FR     NC NC L L  
Greater redhorse Moxostoma valenciennesi SE              
  Moxostoma spp.     L   NC SC NC L L  
  Ictiobusor Moxostoma             NC  
  Catostomus, Hypentelium, or Moxostoma sp.             L  
Characin family Family Characidae NON              
Pirapatinga Piaractus brachypomus NON              
Catfish family Family Ictaluridae         NC SC L NC L L L
White catfish Ameiurus catus NON              
Black bullhead Ameiurus melas   FR     NC SC L NC L L L
Yellow bullhead Ameiurus natalis   FR     NC SC L NC L L  
Brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus   FR     NC SC L NC L L  
  Ameiurus melas ornatalis             L  
  Ameiurus melas ornebulosus         SC   L  
  Ameiurus natalisornebulosus           L    
  Ameiurus spp.       SC NC SC L NC L NC L  
Blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus   FR       NC L    
Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus   FR   SC NC SC NC L NC L  
  Ictalurus furcatus orpunctatus           L L L
  Ameiurus orIctalurus     L   UP NC SC L NC L L L
Mountain madtom Noturus eleutherus                
Slender madtom Noturus exilis   FR            
Stonecat Noturus flavus   FR     SC      
Tadpole madtom Noturus gyrinus   FR     SC      
Brindled madtom Noturus miurus                
Freckled madtom Noturus nocturnus   FR            
Northern madtom Noturus stigmosus SE Poss ER              
  Noturusspp.           L L  
  Ictalurusor Noturus             L  
Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris   FR   SC NC L NC L L  
Pike family Family Esocidae                
Grass pickerel Esox americanus   FR       L    
Northern pike Esox lucius   FR     NC SC L NC L    
Muskellunge (muskie) Esox masquinongy ER, but transplant.              
  Esox spp.       SC NC SC NC L L L
Mudminnow Family Umbridae                
Central mudminnow Umbra limi   FR            
Smelt family Family Osmeridae NON              
Rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax NON              
Salmon family Family Salmonidae                
Cisco Coregonus artedii ST              
Lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis ER              
Bloater Coregonus hoyi                
Blackfin cisco Coregonus nigripinnis ER              
Pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha NON              
Coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch NON              
Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss NON              
Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha NON, FT              
Round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum                
Atlantic salmon Salmo salar not on NHS NON              
Brown trout Salmo trutta NON              
Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis                
Lake trout Salvelinus namaycush                
                   
Trout-perch family Family Percopsidae                
Trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus   FR            
Pirate perch family Family Aphredoderidae                
Pirate perch Aphredoderus sayanus   FR            
Cavefish family Family Amblyopsidae                
Spring cavefish Forbesichthys agassizi                
Codfish family Family Gadidae                
Burbot Lota lota   FR            
Topminnow family Family Fundulidae                
Northern studfish Fundulus catenatus                
Banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus ST              
Northern starhead topminnow Fundulus dispar ST FR            
Blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus   FR            
Blackspotted topminnow Fundulus olivaceus                
Livebearer family Family Poeciliidae                
Western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis   FR            
Silverside family Family Atherinidae                
Brook silverside Labidesthes sicculus   FR            
Inland silverside Menidia beryllina NON              
Stickleback family Family Gasterosteidae                
Brook stickleback Culaea inconstans                
Threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus NON              
Ninespine stickleback Pungitius pungitius                
Sculpin family Family Cottidae                
Mottled sculpin Cottus bairdi   ?            
Banded sculpin Cottus carolinae   ?            
Slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus                
Spoonhead sculpin Cottus ricei ER, IWL              
Deepwater sculpin Myoxocephalus thompsoni                
Temperate bass family Family Moronidae                
White perch Morone americana NON              
White bass Morone chrysops   FR       NC L  
Yellow bass Morone mississippiensis   FR     SC      
Striped bass Morone saxatilis NON              
  Moronespp.         NC L L  
Sunfish family Family Centrarchidae     L SC NC SC L NC L NC L  
Rock bass Ambloplites rupestris   FR       NC L L  
Green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus   FR     NC SC NC L    
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus   FR       NC L    
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus   FR       L    
Orangespotted sunfish Lepomis humilis   FR            
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus   FR     NC SC NC L NC L  
Longear sunfish Lepomis megalotis   FR       L    
Redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus                
Redspotted sunfish Lepomis miniatus ST FR            
Spotted sunfish Lepomis punctatus   FR            
Bantam sunfish Lepomis symmetricus ST FR            
  Lepomis spp.         NC SC L NC L L  
  Ambloplitesor Lepomis         NC      
Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu   FR       NC L L  
Spotted bass Micropterus punctulatus                
Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides   FR   SC NC SC NC L L  
  Micropterus spp.       SC NC SC L NC L NC L  
White crappie Pomoxis annularis   FR       NC L    
Black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus   FR       NC L    
  Pomoxis spp.         NC NC L L  
Pygmy sunfish family Family Elassomatidae                
Banded pygmy sunfish Elassoma zonatum                
Perch family Family Percidae                
Western sand darter Ammocrypta clara SE              
Eastern sand darter Ammocrypta pellucida ST              
Crystal darter Crystallaria asprella ER              
Mud darter Etheostoma asprigene   FR            
Greenside darter Etheostoma blennioides                
Rainbow darter Etheostoma caeruleum                
Bluebreast darter Etheostoma camurum SE              
Bluntnose darter Etheostoma chlorosomum   FR            
Fringed darter Etheostoma crossopterum                
Iowa darter Etheostoma exile ST              
Fantail darter Etheostoma flabellare   FR            
Slough darter Etheostoma gracile                
Harlequin darter Etheostoma histrio SE              
Stripetail darter Etheostoma kennicotti                
Least darter Etheostoma microperca                
Johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum   FR            
Cypress darter Etheostoma proeliare                
Orangethroat darter Etheostoma spectabile                
Spottail darter Etheostoma squamiceps                
Banded darter Etheostoma zonale                
Ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus probable              
Yellow perch Perca flavescens   FR     SC NC    
Logperch Percina caprodes   FR            
Gilt darter Percina evides                
Blackside darter Percina maculata   FR            
Saddleback darter Percina vigil ER              
Slenderhead darter Percina phoxocephala   FR            
Dusky darter Percina sciera                
River darter Percina shumardi   FR            
Stargazing darter Percina uranidea ER              
Sauger Stizostedion canadense   FR       L    
Walleye Stizostedion vitreum   FR       NC    
  Stizostedion spp.           L L  
Drum family Family Sciaenidae                
Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens   FR L SC UP NC SC L NC L NC L  
Cichlid family Family Cichlidae NON              
Rio Grande cichlid Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum NON              
Mullet family Family Mugilidae NON              
Striped mullet Mugil cephalus NON              
Goby family Family Gobiidae NON              
Round goby Neogobius melanostomus NON              
Tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus probable              

Historic sources:
List of fish found in the Illinois River today compiled from information on the IDNR website (2001), INHS website (2002), and Smith, The Fishes of Illinois (1979). Some nomenclature was changed to comply with FishBase taxonomy (www.fishbase.org). The list of fish for the 1876-1903 Illinois River was compiled by cross-checking information in the Forbes and Richardson (1920) book, Smith book (1979), the Illinois Natural History Survey online fish databases (www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/fish/fishintro.html and ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu:591/INHSCollections/fishsearch.html), and maps associated with all three of these sources.
Fish found at the following Amerindian archaeological sites located along the Illinois River are included in this table:
Upper Illinois River valley above the Great Bend:
Mississippian sites: Gentleman Farm site (Langford tradition) by Brown, Willis, Barth, and Neumann 1967
North-central Illinois River valley sites:
Late Late Woodland/Missisippian (entered in Mississippian column) at the Rench site by Martin 1993 in report edited by McConaughy
Woodland site: early Late Woodland Weaver at the Rench site by Martin and Masulis 1993 in report edited by McConaughy
Archaic site: Late Archaic at the Rench site
South-central Illinois River valley sites:
Oneota site: Morton site by Styles 1990 in Santure, Harn, & Esarey 1990
Mississippian sites: Morton site by Styles 1990 in Santure, Harn, & Esarey 1990
Norris Farms 36 site by Styles 1990 in Santure, Harn, & Esarey 1990;
Orendorf site (AD 1100-1250) fish identified by Paloumpis 1981 in papers compiled by Esarey & Conrad 1981
Lower Illinois River valley sites:
Late pre-colonial sites: Naples-Abbott site by Styles, Martin, and Masulis 1987
Mississippian sites: Hill Creek (758 BP) by Colburn 1985;
Woodland sites: Middle Woodland and early Late Woodland White Hall phase at Apple Creek site by Parmalee, Paloumpis, and Wilson 1972
Late Woodland at Smiling Dan (1130 BP-1050 BP) screen & floatation (Styles & Purdue 1994);
Late Woodland at Campbell Hollow (1250 BP) by Colburn 1994;
Early Late Woodland at Carlin, Newbridge, and Weitzer by Styles 1981;
Middle Woodland at Smiling Dan (250 BC - AD 400) screen & flotation (Styles, Purdue, & Colburn 1985);
Middle Woodland at Naples-Abbott site by Styles, Martin, and Masulis 1987
Middle Archaic sites: Koster site Middle Archaic Horizon 6 (5700-4900 BP) and Horizon 4 by Hill 1975;
Middle Archaic Horizon 10, 9, part of 8 (8200-6850 BP) by Neusius 1982;
Campbell Hollow by Colburn 1985
Early Archaic: Koster site Horizon 11 (8500-8450 BP) by Neusius 1982;
Campbell Hollow by Colburn 1985
Notes: The absence of a species does not necessarily mean that it was not present.
Some nomenclature is changed to conform to FishBase taxonomy. A “cf” identification is treated as a positive identification.