58 
Brooks M. Burr 
in the Mississippi River. 
Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes and Richardson). Pallid sturgeon. 
Rare in the main channel of the Mississippi River where it is captured by 
commercial fishermen. No definite records, but descriptions of specimens 
by fishermen apply to this species. It has been taken farther south in the 
Mississippi River (Bailey and Cross 1954), so is clearly part of the Ken- 
tucky fauna. 
Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Rafinesque). Shovelnose sturgeon. 
Occasional in the main channels of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 
Polyodontidae — paddlefishes 
Polyodon spathula (Walbaum). Paddlefish. A,C,D,H,J,K. Occa- 
sional in the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, Kentucky and 
Licking rivers. Not reported from the Licking River since Barbour 
(1951). 
Lepisosteidae — gars 
Lepisosteus oculatus (Winchell). Spotted gar. A,D. Rare in the Mis- 
sissippi (SIUC), lower Ohio and Cumberland rivers (UL). Has not been 
taken farther east in the Ohio River than near the mouth of the 
Tradewater River. 
Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus). Longnose gar. C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L. 
The most common and widespread gar in Kentucky, occurring in large 
rivers (and lakes) and their major tributaries throughout the state. 
Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque. Shortnose gar. A,C,D. Limited 
to the western one-fourth of Kentucky where it is most common in 
Bayou du Chien, Obion Creek and Land Between the Lakes. Occa- 
sional to common in the lower Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 
Lepisosteus spatula Lacepede. Alligator gar. A,D. Four valid records 
presently are known, one each from the Tennessee River (Barbour 1963), 
mouth of the Ohio River (picture at INHS), Ohio River at Paducah 
(Hoyt 1979), and mouth of Bayou du Chien (EKU). Trautman (1957) 
reported other records (mostly anecdotal) of the species from the Ohio 
River as far east as Bracken County. Status uncertain, although Hoyt 
(1979) reported capture of 20 individuals during a two year study of fish 
impingement at the Shawnee Steam Plant, Paducah. 
Amiidae — bowfins 
Amia calva Linnaeus. Bowfin. A,C,D,E,G,TL. Sporadic on the 
Coastal Plain (INHS, MSU, SIUC, UL) and in backwater areas of the 
Green (SIUC, KNP), Salt (UL) and Kentucky rivers (KFW). Branson 
(1977) reported specimens from Tygart’s Creek, Carter County (EKU). 
