Laurel Dace
Chrosomus saylori
About This Fish

Historically known from only eight streams on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, this federally endangered species has recently faced dramatic range reduction from poor agricultural practices. They are found in pools of headwater streams. Like other members of the redbelly dace group, male Laurel Daces develop bright breeding colors in the early spring with yellow fins and a red belly.

Literature

George, A.L, B.R. Kuhajda, D.A. Neely, G. Call. 2015. Technical/Agency draft recovery plan for the Laurel Dace (Chrosomus saylori). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Atlanta, Georgia. https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pdf/recovery-plan/laurel-dace.pdf

Federal Register. 2010. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Cumberland Darter, Rush Darter, Yellowcheek Darter, Chucky Madtom, and Laurel Dace as Endangered Throughout Their Ranges. Federal Register Document 2010-15240 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2010-06-24/pdf/2010-15240.pdf#page=1

Strange, R.M., and R.L. Mayden. 2009. Phylogenetic relationships and a revised taxonomy for North American cyprinids currently assigned to Phoxinus (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae). Copeia 2009:494-501. https://www.asihcopeiaonline.org/doi/abs/10.1643/CI-07-070

Strange, R. M. and C. F. Skelton. 2005. Status, distribution, and conservation genetics of the laurel dace(Phoxinus saylori). Unpublished report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cookeville Field Office, September 28, 2005. 22 pp.

Skelton, C.E. 2001. A new dace of the genus Phoxinus from the Tennessee River drainage. Copeia 2001:118-128. https://www.asihcopeiaonline.org/

Skelton, C.E. 1997. Status survey of the laurel dace (Phoxinus sp.) on Walden Ridge and adjacent areas in East Tennessee. Final Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Asheville, North Carolina.

Skelton, C. E. 1996. Status survey of Phoxinus species in the vicinity of Walden Ridge, Tennessee. Unpublished report to the Tennessee Valley Authority. 29 pp.