Tennessee River Fish Surveys 
111 
Results of our study indicate an abundant population of the cop- 
percheek darter, Etheostoma aquali Williams and Etnier, in the Duck 
River. Because of its restricted range, E. aquali is considered a threat- 
ened species in Tennessee (Starnes and Etnier 1980). A total of 554 spec- 
imens were collected from 1979 through 1981. This species, which is 
endemic to the Duck and Buffalo rivers (Williams and Etnier 1978), was 
common at six sites on the Duck River from RM 159.4 to RM 179.1. 
Above this point, E. aquali was less abundant and was absent from 
three samples at RM 243.1. The decrease in numbers upstream is prob- 
ably caused by the tailwater influence from Normandy Dam. TVA col- 
lected seven specimens (reported as spotted darter) at RM 245.0 in 1972 
(Anonymous 1975), prior to completion of Normandy. 
A single specimen of the striated darter, Etheostoma striatulum 
Page and Braasch, was taken at RM 179.1. It is listed as in need of 
management in Tennessee (Starnes and Etnier 1980). Page (1983) con- 
siders this species “rare and limited in distribution to tributaries of the 
Duck River.” Although it is mainly a small-stream species, there are 
several records from the main Duck River (TVA, regional Natural Her- 
itage Project, unpubl. data). The collection of a single specimen at RM 
153.1 in 1980 (TVA, unpubl. data) represents the downstream limit in 
the main Duck River for this species. 
Two other species collected have the status of in need of manage- 
ment in Tennessee: redband darter, Etheostoma luteovinctum Gilbert 
and Swain, and slenderhead darter, Percina phoxocephala (Nelson). 
Clinch River 
A total of 63 species were collected from five sites on the Clinch 
River (Table 2). The most significant find was the western sand darter, 
Ammocrypta clara Jordan and Meek, which had not been found pre- 
viously in the Clinch River. A single specimen was taken at each of two 
sites in June 1980: Kyles Ford (RM 189.5), Hancock County, Tennes- 
see, and Hwy. 645 bridge (RM 219.4), Scott County, Virginia. The lack 
of previous collections of this species is probably the result of several 
conditions: (1) only a small population exists in the Clinch River, (2) the 
preferred habitat is scarce, and (3) the preferred habitat is in deep pools, 
making collection difficult. Starnes et al. (1977) discussed the annual 
population density fluctuations and their effect on the success of collect- 
ing species that inhabit sand and gravel substrate, especially A. clara. 
They further speculated that this species was a part of the Clinch fauna 
(Starnes et al. 1977), which our study proved correct. Although A. clara 
is not listed on the official Tennessee list, it is considered endangered by 
the Tennessee Heritage Program (Starnes and Etnier 1980). Since our 
collections produced the first specimens from Virginia, no status has yet 
been given to A. clara. 
The slender chub, Hybopsis cahni Hubbs and Crowe, was taken at 
two sites (RM 183.7 and RM 189.5). May and June collections pro- 
duced the largest number of specimens (15 and 52, respectively) of this 
