Considered a synonym of Cyprinella formosa (Girard, 1856)
- Gilbert, Carter R.. 1978. "Type catalogue of the North American cyprinid fish genus Notropis". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences. 23(1):1-104 (ffm00095)
Original description as Notropis mearnsi:
- Snyder, John Otterbein. 1915. "Notes on a collection of fishes made by Dr. Edgar A. Mearns from rivers tributary to the Gulf of California". Proceeding of the United States National Museum. 49(2125):573-586 (ffm00106)