Identification of Cyprinid Fish Reported from Kansas as Squalius elongatus

Abstract

Among the most puzzling records of freshwater fishes from eastern North America is that of Squalius elongatus from Kansas (Hay, 1887: 249). Suspecting that the record was based either on a misidentification or on an intergeneric hybrid, rather than on an example of Clinostomus elongatus (Kirtland), we have not included Kansas in the range of the species (Hubbs and Lagler, 1941: 56; 1947: 64). Since, however, this dace has a markedly localized and disjunct distribution, especially toward the west, and since several northern types range or once ranged southward as far as the Missouri River system in Kansas, the record, though from a stream far removed from others known to be occupied by the species, has not totally lacked plausibility. W. Ralph Taylor on examining the specimen in 1949 determined that it has the pharyngeal teeth alignable in 3 rows, as in most Old-World cyprinids but as in no native North American species. Since this observation accentuated the enigma, I studied the specimen (U.S.N.M. 38233) critically, with the cooperation of Leonard P. Schultz, on January 13, 1951. It was reported by Hay (I.c.) as having been collected by him in the North Fork of Solomon River at Lenora, Kansas, in July, 1885.