Banner photo: Anthony Creek, West Virginia

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I have been fortunate to witness so many amazing critters and sights while researching fish in systems spanning headwater mountain streams to the lowlands of the Mississippi River. Please look through the gallery and take in some of the wonder. All pictures were taken by members of my team or me. Feel free to use these for research/educational/outreach purposes (photo credit appreciated).

Water Dragon....only kidding. This is a large female Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus) weighing in at 18 lbs. The largest ever caught in Missouri is over 30 lbs!

Two species of Sand Darter: Scaly Sand (top) and Western Sand (bottom) darters

Speckled Darter (Etheostoma stigmaeum)

River Darter (Percina scumardi)

Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). This turtle is Endangered in Missouri. The locals call them "Loggerheads."

Removing Silver Carp that leapt into the boat. Silver Carp are an invasive species introduced from China in the 70s.

Smallmouth Bass with Chestnut Lamprey attached. This fish had previously been tagged by the Missouri Department of Conservation 25 miles upstream! Fish move.

Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides)

Sabine Shiner (Notropis sabinae) - Endangered in Missouri

Smallmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus)

Black Buffalo (Ictiobus niger). Many people confuse this fish for a smallmouth buffalo.

Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus). One of my favorite species of fish.

Sauger (Sander canadensis). Closely related to a Walleye.

Walleye (Sander vitreus)

Gravel Chub (Erimystax x-punctatus)

Juvenile Northern Map Turtle (Graptyemys geographica)

White Bass (Morone chrysops). This fish likely dispersed into the Gasconade River from the Missouri River.

Juvenile Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) - Endangered in Missouri

Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)

Crystal Darter (Crystallaria asprella) - Endangered in Missouri

Cyrstal Darters (Cyrstallaria asprella) - Yes, there's two in the picture.

Warmouth Sunfish (Lepomis gulosus). Easily confused with a Rockbass or Shadow Bass.

Shadow Bass (Ambloplites ariommus)

American Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) - "Spoonbill." Official State Aquatic Species of Missouri

Whitetail Shiner (Cyprinella galactura)

Missouri Saddled Darter (Etheostoma tetrazonum)

Meramec Saddled Darter (Etheostoma erythrozonum)

Shovenose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) - "ol' hackleback"

Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus)

Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

Two-month old Alabama Shad (Alosa alabamae). This individual's parents traveled from the Gulf of Mexico to spawn in Missouri Ozark rivers. Pretty neat!

Red Shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis)

Pealip Redhorse (Moxostoma pisolabrum). Only Redhorse existing in the sand rivers of northern Missouri.

Shoal Chub (Macrhybopsis hyostoma)

Banded Sculpin (Cottus carolinae)

Carmine Shiner (Notropis percobromis)

Bowfin (Amia calva) - These normally live in backwaters of the Mississippi River, but occasionally use large rivers to move about.

Pirate Perch (Aphredoderus sayanus). This is a nocturnal species inhabiting backwaters of large rivers.

Release Pic. Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus)

Stippled Darter (Etheostoma punctulatum). This is a headwater fish collected in large rivers. Is it using large rivers for dispersal?

Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) - This one was 48 lbs

Adult Skipjack Herring (Alosa chrysochloris). This is a migratory fish that uses large rivers for spawning and rearing. This is the only record of Skipjack from the Grand River drainage.

American Eel (Anguilla rostrata). Eels are quite rare in the Midwest and have declined following damming of the Mississippi River. This is a female born in the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, this is the best photo I could get because it was so slippery.

Silver Chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana). This a Missouri River fish living in large tributaries.

Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus). Furthest upstream record in the Black River. This is a highly migratory species greatly affected by dams.

Johnny Darter (Etheostoma nigrum)

Chestnut Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon castaneus). This a parasitic "fish" that feeds on the blood of other fish.

River Redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum). Few people have seen this fish in its spawning colors.

Northern Studfish (Fundulus catenatus).

Black Buffalo (Ictiobus niger)

Highfin Carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) - Missouri Species of Conservation Concern (SOCC). We recently "re-discovered" this fish in the Salt River system for the first time in 60+ years.

Orangespotted Sunfish (Lepomis humilis)

Hornyhead Chub (Nocomis biguttatus) - This fish builds nests out of rocks, which are used for spawning by a half dozen other minnow species.

Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum)

Weed Shiner (Notropis texanus) - Missouri Species of Conservation Concern (SOCC)

Wild Goldfish (i.e., "Crucian Carp"). They revert to their natural form after a few generations living in the wild. This is about the hardiest fish in Missouri.

Cypress Darter (Etheostoma proeliare) - A darter that lives in sluggish tannin-stained backwaters of large rivers.