The state of Arkansas has a wide variety of freshwater fish species in its rivers, lakes, and streams.
Sport Black bass Order: Perciformes – Family: Centrarchidae Native species Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu Spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus
Carps Order: Cypriniformes – Family: Cyprinidae Non-native, exotic species Bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis. Common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella. Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix.
North American catfish Order: Siluriformes – Family: Ictaluridae Native species Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris
Pikes Order: Esociformes – Family: Esocidae Native species Chain pickerel, Esox niger. American pickerel, Esox americanus vermiculatus. Non-native, exotic species Muskellunge, Esox masquinongy. Northern pike, Esox lucius.
Sunfishes Order: Perciformes – Family: Centrarchidae Native species Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus Longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotus Flier, Centrarchus macropterus Redear sunfish, Lepomis microlophus Orangespotted sunfish, Lepomis humilis Warmouth, Lepomis gulosus Redspotted sunfish, Lepomis miniatus Black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus White crappie, Pomoxis annularis Ozark bass, Ambloplites constellatus
Temperate bass Order: Perciformes – Family: Moronidae Native species White bass, Morone chrysops Yellow bass, Morone mississippiensis Non-native, exotic species Striped bass, Morone saxatilis Hybrid striped bass, Morone chrysops × Morone saxatilis
Trouts Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Salmonidae Non-native, exotic species Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis. Brown trout, Salmo trutta. Cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii. Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush. Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Tiger trout, Salmo trutta × Salvelinus fontinalis.
Non-sport Bowfin Order: Amiiformes, Family: Amiidae Native species Bowfin, Amia calva.
In Arkansas, the bowfin is typically known as grinnel.
North American Catfish Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae Native species Black bullhead, Ameiurus melas
Cavefish Order: Percopsiformes, Family: Amblyopsidae Native species Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae
Drums Order: Acanthuriformes, Family: Sciaenidae Native species Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens
Gars Order: Lepisosteiformes, Family: Lepisosteidae Native species Alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula. Spotted gar, Lepisosteus oculatus. Longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus. Shortnose gar, Lepisosteus platostomus.
Minnows Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Cyprinidae Native species Bigeye chub, Hybopsis amblops. Bigeye shiner, Notropis boops. Blackspot shiner, Notropis atrocaudalis. Blacktail shiner, Cyprinella venusta. Bluehead shiner, Notropis hubbsi. Bluntface shiner, Notropis camurus. Cardinal shiner, Luxilus cardinalis. Cypress minnow, Hybognathus hayi. Duskystripe shiner, Luxilus pilsbryi. Emerald shiner, Notropis atherinoides. Finescale stoneroller, Campostoma pullum. Flathead chub, Hybopsis gracilis. Ghost shiner, Notropis buchanani. Golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas. Gravel chub, Hybopsis x-punctata. Highland stoneroller, Campostoma spadiceum. Hornyhead chub, Nocomis biguttatus. Ironcolor shiner, Notropis chalybaeus. Largescale stoneroller, Campostoma oligolepis. Mississippi silvery minnow, Hybognathus nuchalis. Ozark chub, Erimystax harryi. Pallid shiner, Notropis amnis. Plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus. Plains stoneroller, Campostoma plumbeum. Pugnose minnow, Notropis emiliae. Red River shiner, Notropis bairdi. Red shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis. Redspot chub, Nocomis asper. River shiner, Notropis blennius. Sicklefin chub, Hybopsis meeki. Silver chub, Hybopsis storeriana. Southern redbelly dace, Chrosomus erythrogaster. Speckled chub, Hybopsis aestivalis. Spotfin shiner, Cyprinella spiloptera. Steelcolor shiner, Cyprinella whipplei. Streamline chub, Hybopsis dissimilis. Striped shiner, Luxilus chrysocephalus. Sturgeon chub, Hybopsis gelida. Whitetail shiner, Notropis galactura. Non-native, exotic species Goldfish, Carassius auratus.
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Leuciscidae Native species Arkansas River shiner, Notropis girardi. Central stoneroller, Campostoma anomalum. Chub shiner, Notropis potteri. Kiamichi shiner, Notropis ortenburgeri. Mimic shiner, Notropis volucellus. Ozark minnow, Notropis nubilus. Ozark shiner, Notropis ozarcanus. Ouachita mountain shiner, Lythrurus snelsoni. Peppered shiner, Notropis perpallidus. Redfin shiner, Lythrurus umbratilis. Ribbon shiner, Notropis fumeus. Rosyface shiner, Notropis rubellus. Sand shiner, Notropis stramineus. Sabine shiner, Notropis sabinae. Silverband shiner, Notropis shumardi. Taillight shiner, Notropis maculatus. Telescope shiner, Notropis telescopus. Wedgespot shiner, Notropis greenei. Weed shiner, Notropis texanus.
Paddlefish Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Polyodontidae Native species American paddlefish, Polydon spathula.
Sturgeons Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Acipenseridae Native species Lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens. Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus. Pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus. Shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus.
The three types of sturgeon native to Arkansas are uncommon, and two of the species are listed as endangered nationwide. The lake sturgeon is near the southern end of its range in Arkansas, more commonly found in the Upper Midwest.. Pallid and shovelnose sturgeon live in large, turbid rivers of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, including the lower Arkansas, Mississippi, and lower White rivers downstream of impoundments...
Eels Order: Anguilliformes, Family: Anguillidae Native species American eel, Anguilla rostrata.
Herrings Order: Clupeiformes, Family: Clupeidae Native species Alabama shad, Alosa alabamae. Skipjack herring, Alosa chrysochloris. Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum. Threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense.
Lampreys Order: Petromyzontiformes, Family: Petromyzontidae Native species Chestnut lamprey, Ichthyomyzon castaneus. Southern brook lamprey, Ichthyomyzon gagei. Silver lamprey, ichthyomyzon unicuspis. Least brook lamprey, Lampetra aepyptera. American brook lamprey, Lenthenteron appendix. Non-native, exotic species Sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus
Mudminnow Order: Esociformes, Family: Umbridae Native species Central mudminnow, Umbra limi.
Smelts Order: Osmeriformes, Family: Osmeridae
Native species Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax.
Silversides Order: Atheriniformes, Family Atherinopsidae Native species Brook silverside, Labidesthes sicculus Inland silverside, Menidia beryllina
Mooneyes Order: Hiodontiformes, Family: Hiodontidae
Native species Goldeye, Hiodon alosoides. Mooneye, Hiodon tergisus.
See also
List of Arkansas Wildlife Management Areas Water in Arkansas
References