| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Leuciscidae | Notropis mekistocholas | Snelson | 1971 | Cape Fear Shiner |
Notropis mekistocholas
Unique Characters: Long, coiled black gut with black peritoneum. Black stripe on side but not on snout. Black pigment on both lips. Black wedge on anal fin base, usually separated from dark stripe along body. Pointed snout. No red pigment in upper iris. Mostly scaled anterior breast area. Usually 8 anal fin rays. Complete lateral line. Males bright brassy yellow-gold. Restricted to the Cape Fear basin.
Similar Species:
Whitemouth Shiner
Notropis alborus
Swallowtail Shiner
Notropis procne
Whitemouth Shiner Notropis alborus. Upper iris of eye usually has red pigment. Body divided by a jagged-edged lateral stripe, which terminates as a wedge on caudal peduncle. The black stripe continues around the snout but not on the lips. Mouth horizontal. Rounded snout. Usually 7 anal fin rays. Complete lateral line.
Swallowtail Shiner Notropis procne. Black stripe on side but not on snout. Caudal spot disconnected from lateral stripe. Pointed snout and horizontal mouth. Dash (smudge) of black pigment at base of dorsal fin. Anal fin base heavily pigmented. Usually 7 anal fin rays. Complete lateral line.
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