Fish Species Not Seen in Iowa Since the 1930s Suddenly Reappears

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is always up to some incredible work in every corner of the state. Frequently, they post the work that they do, and occasionally some awesome findings to their Facebook page, which is exactly what they did this week when they made a monumental discovery.

For decades, the Iowa DNR has managed fish and wildlife programs all across the state. They ensure Iowa's forests and prairies are well-kept and healthy, and they also assure that people are rife with opportunities for recreational activities in Iowa's many vast state parks. They're all about improving the quality of life in Iowa, and preserving nature for the next generation.

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So, it's always doubly impressive when they (re)discover a species that was thought to no longer exist in Iowa. This week on Facebook, they posted a photo of a Starhead topminnow (also known as Fundulus dispar), a fish species not seen in Iowa since the 1930s!

The discovery was made by members of the Iowa DNR's Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring team, per their Facebook post. This crew is comprised of young biologists through the Chickadee Checkoff. The Checkoff worked with the Multiple Species team "tromping through Iowa's outdoors" over the span of six months, gathering data on thousands of species of wildlife that live in the state.

The Iowa DNR noted that no single project has made more contributions to understanding Iowa wildlife than the Checkoff, which was started in 2006. They made note that you can donate to the Checkoff via your State of Iowa tax form. Last year, about 5,300 tax payers donated around $134,00 to the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund via the Checkoff.

Back to the Starhead topminnow: per Illinois Natural History, it's an endangered species due to the removal of aquatic vegetation. Land development has also hurt its habitat significantly. The fish is identified by its light olive-colored back and a yellowish belly. It also has reddish/brown lines along its sides, which vary between male and female.

Starhead topminnows feed on various insects, including crustaceans, mollusks, and vegetation. They are often seen in Wisconsin and Illinois, but weren't believed to exist in Iowa. Until this week.

A tip of the cap to the Iowa DNR on another incredible find. To see more of the work they accomplish, visit their Facebook page.