The Introduced Fishes of Nevada, with a History of their Introduction

Abstract

At least 39 species and subspecies of fishes have been introduced into the waters of Nevada since 1873. Of these, 24 kinds are now known to occur in the state. A thorough survey of the exotic fishes has not been made, but specimens or records of introduced species have been kept in the course of rather extensive collecting of the native fish fauna from 1934 to 1943. Consequently it is believed that the number of introduced species herein enumerated approaches a complete tabulation. Some additions among the sunfishes and catfishes may be expected.The annotated list is divided into two parts: species now present in the state, and species introduced but never established. The established kinds constitute about two‐thirds of the total number of known native species, but are far outnumbered by the indigenous fishes when all the local subspecies (Hubbs and Miller, in press) are included.The stocking of cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in the same creek should be discouraged since these two species hybridize extensively and the cutthroat trout are speedily eliminated. Brook trout and cutthroat trout, however, do not hybridize. A suggested practice would be to select separate streams when planting rainbow and cutthroat species, a procedure greatly simplified by the presence of many isolated creeks throughout the state.The further distribution of the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, is not recommended as this species is a serious competitor and does not reach a size suitable for game fishing.