| Family: |
Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Pogonichthyinae |
| Max. size: |
12.4 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 3 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
North America: Atlantic, Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, Mississippi River, and upper Mobile Bay drainages Nova Scotia to Manitoba, Canada and south to northern Georgia and northern Alabama, USA. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Rhinichthys atratulus can be diagnosed by the following characters: back and side with many brown-black specks; deep caudal peduncle; barbel in corner of mouth; groove separating snout from upper lip absent; pointed snout slightly overhangs mouth; 53-70 scales on lateral line; 7 anal rays; pharyngeal teeth 2,4-4,2. Body light brown above, black spot followed by silver spot on dorsal fin base; black stripe along side, through eye and onto snout, continuous in young, as blotches in adult; often a silver stripe above black stripe; and silver white below. Breeding male can be distinguished by having pads on upper surface of pectoral fin, yellow-white pectoral and pelvic fins, white to red stripe below black body stripe (Ref. 86798). Body stout, spindle-shaped; mouth slightly inferior, slightly oblique and extending to below nostril; pointed barbel in groove at angle of mouth. Gill rakers short, conical, widely spaced (Ref. 54725). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits rocky runs and pools of headwaters, creeks and small rivers (Ref. 5723, 10294, 86798). Feeds on aquatic insects (Ref. 54729, 10294), diatoms and other algae (Ref. 54725). Considered as an attractive aquarium pet and propagation through artificial fertilization is practical (Ref. 54725). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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