Name:
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- Notropis, from the Greek, "back keel"
- spilopterus, from the Greek, "spotfin"
- Common name from the prominent black blotch in the last few rays of the
dorsal fin
- Other common names include: Blue Minnow, Lemonfin Minnow, Satin-finned
Minnow, Silverfin Minnow, Steel Colored Shiner
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Taxonomy:
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- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata, animals with a spinal chord
- Subphylum Vertebrata, animals with a backbone
- Superclass Osteichthyes, bony fishes
- Class Actinopterygii, ray-finned and spiny rayed fishes
- Subclass Neopterygii
- Infraclass Teleostei
- Superorder Ostariophysi
- Order Cypriniformes, minnows and suckers
- Family Cyprinidae, carps and minnows
- Genus Notropis, the eastern shiners
- Also known as Cyprinella spiloptera (Cope, 1868)
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Description:
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- A
- Length to 3"
- Weight
- Coloration
- steel blue back and sides overlaid with silver shading and dark scale pockets
that form a diamond design
- prominent black blotch in the last few rays of the dorsal fin
- anal fin of breeding males is often bright yellow, and the back is pigmented
with olive green, shading to purple and blue.
- prominent black blotch in last few rays of dorsal fin
- Body
- moderately slender, slab-sided form
- dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins of 8 rays
- pectoral fins of 13-15 rays
- Head
- mouth sub-terminal, oblique
- barbel lacking
- pharyngeal teeth strongly hooked, on sturdy arches in a l, 4-4, 1 pattern.
- lateral line complete with 36-38 scales and slightly de-curved.
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Identification:
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Distribution:
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- Not known from the Rainy River or Superior drainages in Minnesota.
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Habitat:
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- Lakes and small to moderately large creeks.
- Quite tolerant of silty and turbid conditions.
- Swift flowing waters over shallow sand flats.
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Food:
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- Insects, vegetable material, and some small fish. Especially fond
of flies and mosquitos.
- Feeds near bottom during the day; nearer the surface at dawn and dusk when
the feeding is most intense.
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History:
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Uses:
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- Said to be an excellent aquarium fish.
- Considered a good bait minnow because of its brilliant colors.
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Reproduction:
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- Spawns through the summer (May-August) over irregular surfaces where eggs
can be deposited into small crevices in rocks and logs.
- Males establish territories of one or more crevices (as short as 3/4" though
usually longer) which they defend against other males.
- Fractional spawners, spawning at intervals of 1-7 days; most commonly 5.
Up to three groups of eggs may be released during one spawning session.
- Adults sometimes feed on eggs flushed from the crevices before they become
attached to its walls.
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Comments:
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Links:
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Last updated on 6 November 1999
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