Waccamaw Drainage Fishes 13 



heavily vegetated waters elsewhere throughout the system. Stations: 

 2a,b,c, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8a,b,c,d, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 

 27a, 29b,c, 30, 38, 39, 43. 



Cyprinodontidae — killifishes 



Fundulus chrysotus (Gunther), golden topminnow. The range of 

 the golden topminnow was originally thought to extend along the 

 Atlantic coast only as far north as the Santee drainage, South Carolina 

 (Shute 1980). Recently, however, specimens were collected by R. H. 

 Moore (pers. comm.) from the Waccamaw River at Bucksville, South 

 Carolina, 12.5 air km south-southeast of Conway. We examined the 

 specimens and concur with Moore's identification. In addition, speci- 

 mens from Waverly Mills, South Carolina (Waccamaw drainage) identi- 

 fied as this species by Fowler (1935) have been verified. 



This species prefers river backwaters, slow-moving streams, or 

 ditches, and is usually associated with dense growths of aquatic vegeta- 

 tion (Shute 1980). Ample habitat certainly exists throughout most of the 

 drainage and additional populations quite likely exist. 



Fundulus diaphanus (Lesueur), banded killifish. Fowler (1935) 

 reported the banded killifish from Waverly Mills (presumably on the 

 Waccamaw River), South Carolina. These specimens were examined by 

 Hubbs and Raney (1946) and re-examined by us, and are typically F. 

 diaphanus. This represents the southernmost extent of the species' range 

 (Gilbert and Shute 1980). No banded killifish were collected during our 

 survey. 



Fundulus lineolatus (Agassiz), lined topminnow. We collected this 

 species from Lake Waccamaw for the first time. The species is rare in 

 the lake but common throughout the swamps and canals of the system. 

 Specimens are usually encountered in standing, heavily-vegetated, dark- 

 stained waters. Stations: lc,g,h, 2a,b,c, 3, 6, 7, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 

 27a, 28, 29c, 30, 37, 38, 40. 



Fundulus waccamensis Hubbs and Raney, Waccamaw killifish. The 

 Waccamaw killifish was originally described as a Lake Waccamaw 

 endemic by Hubbs and Raney (1946). Recently, however, Bailey (1977) 

 reported specimens believed to be F. waccamensis from Lake Phelps, 

 most of which lies in Washington County in northeastern North Caro- 

 lina. Specimens from Lake Phelps examined by us and E. F. Menhinick 

 (pers. comm.) were found to differ slightly from F. waccamensis in 

 respect to head length, interorbital width, and caudal peduncle length. 

 This slight differentiation might tend to lessen the possibility that F. 

 waccamensis was accidentally introduced into Lake Phelps. 



In the Waccamaw system, this killifish occurred at nearly all lake 

 stations sampled. In addition, it was found (especially during winter 

 months) throughout the lower parts of Big Creek, the canals around the 



