Fish discoveries by the Lewis and Clark and Red River Expeditions

The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 and the Red River Expedition of 1806 were two early explorations of the land acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in western North America. They were the first such western excursions to include natural history investigations as part of the trip objectives-a reflection of Thomas Jefferson's strong scientific curiosity Whereas Lewis and Clark were briefly trained but conscientious amateurs, the Red River party included naturalist Peter Custis. Both expeditions discovered new species of fishes, which were later formally described by others, hut the detailed descriptions of the Lewis and Clark Expedition are much more useful to modern ichthyologists than the simple, often erroneous, identifications of a trained naturalist of the day.