1 66 Series Ostariophysi 



forms. There is some evidence that the group is derived from 

 Asia through western America, the Pacific Coast forms being 

 much nearer the Old World types than the forms inhabiting the 

 Mississippi Valley. Not many Cyprinidcs are found in Mexico, 

 none in Cuba, South America, Australia, Africa, or the islands 

 to the eastward of Borneo. Many species are very widely 

 distributed, many others extremely local. In the genus Notro- 

 pis, each river basin in the Southern States has its series of different 

 and mostly highly colored species. The presence of Notropis 

 niveus in the Neuse, Notropis pyrrhomelas in the Santee, Notro- 

 pis zonistius in the Chattahoochee, Notropis callistius, tri- 

 chroistius, and stigmaturus in the Alabama, Notropis whipplei in 



FIG. 126. Silverfin, Notropis whipplei (Girard). White River, Indiana. 

 Family Cyprinidce. 



the Mississippi, Notropis galacturus in the Tennessee, and Notro- 

 pis cercostigma in the Sabine forms an instructive series in this 

 regard. These fishes and the darters (Etheo stamina) are, among 

 American fishes, the groups best suited for the study of local 

 problems in distribution. 



Species of Dace and Shiner. Noteworthy species in other 

 genera are the following: 



Largest and best known of the species of Notropis is the 

 familiar shiner or redfin, Notropis cornutus, found in almost 

 every brook throughout the region east of the Missouri River. 



Campostoma anomalum, the stone-roller, has the very long 

 intestines six times the length of its body, arranged in fifteen 

 coils around the air-bladder. This species feeds on mud and 

 spawns in little brooks, swarming in early spring throughout 



