Okefenokee Swamp Vertebrates 
51 
and streams as well as in the large, open expanses of the swamp. 
Aquatic habitats are not discrete units in the swamp but are graded 
and sometimes mixed. The distribution of fishes reflects this. The habitat 
associations of the swamp ichthyofauna indicates the fishes are rather 
uniformly distributed (Table 1). Comparison of water current preferences 
among the species does, however, indicate some degree of habitat 
segregation. Noturus leptacanthus and Percina nigrofasciata will 
generally be found in water with noticeable to moderate current. Umbra 
pygmaea, Fundulus chrysotus, Fundulus cingulatus, Fundulus lineolatus, 
Leptolucania ommata, Heterandria formosa, Elassoma evergladei and 
Elassoma okefenokee generally are found in areas with no current but 
with abundant aquatic vegetation. The remaining fishes occur in areas 
with water currents ranging from none to noticeable. This wide range of 
current tolerances helps explain the overlap observed in fish distributions 
across obvious physically different habitats. 
Table 1. List of fishes of the Okefenokee Swamp. Based on museum records and 
data from Dahlberg and Scott (1970), Gasaway (1976), Holder and 
German (1977), and personal observations (B.J. Freeman). Scientific 
and common names based on Bailey et al. (1970). L = lake, P= prairie, 
S = stream. 
SPECIES 
ORDER SEMIONOTIFORMES 
Family Lepisosteidae 
Lepisosteus platyrhincus, Florida gar 
ORDER AMIIFORMES 
Family Amiidae 
Amia calva, Bowfin 
ORDER ANGUILLIFORMES 
Family Anguillidae 
Anguilla rostrata, American eel 
ORDER OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES 
Family Esocidae 
Esox americanus, Redfin pickerel 
Esox niger, Chain pickerel 
Family Umbridae 
Umbra pygmaea, Mudminnow 
ORDER CYPRINIFORMES 
Family Catostomidae 
Erimyzon sucetta, Lake chubsucker 
Minytrema melanops. Spotted sucker 
HABITAT 
PREFERENCE 
L P S 
L P S 
L P S 
L P S 
L P S 
L P S 
L P S 
L S 
