THE BIGHEAD CARP (HYPOPHTHALMICHTHYS-NOBILIS) IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

We report collections of the bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845) in the Mississippi River in Missouri and Illinois b etween 1991 and 1994. In all, we collected 48 specimens ranging from 1 8 to 790 mm total length. Young-of-the-year fish were caught in 1992 a nd 1994, which suggests that the species is able to reproduce in the M ississippi River and may become established. Because H. nobilis is a l ow level filter feeder, its presence may affect other filter feeding f ishes such as the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), bigmouth buffalo (Ic tiobus cyprinellus), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum). Further r esearch is needed to confirm that the species is established and what its biological impact will be.