Name:
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- Notropis, from the Greek, "back keel"
- stramineus, from the Latin, "of straw", a
reference to the color of preserved specimens
- Common Name
- Other common names include:
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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
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Description:
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- A common midwestern minnow.
- Length 2½"
- Coloration
- back straw or light olive with scales edged in pigment
- sides silvery
- belly silver-white
- faint, bluish lateral band may be found
- mid-dorsal stripe prominent, widening to a wedge before the dorsal fin;
does not run around the base of the dorsal fin as it extends towards the
tail.
- inconspicuous spot may be present at the end of the caudal peduncle
- Body
- slender form, slightly compressed laterally
- dorsal and pelvic fins of 8 rays
- anal fin of 7 rays
- pectoral fins of 13/14 rays
- complete lateral line of 35-38 scales, and the pores are outlined above
and below with pigment, a feature termed "mouse tracks."
- Head
- mouth terminal, slightly oblique
- no barbel present
- pharyngeal teeth hooked, on moderate arches in 4-4 pattern
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Identification:
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Distribution:
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- North Dakota to St. Lawrence and Ohio River drainages, south to Mexico.
- All Minnesota drainages except the Superior drainage.
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Habitat:
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- Middle portions of small streams and rivers. Extremely rare in lakes.
- Prefers flowing water over sand or gravel bottoms, where it usually is
the dominant fish species.
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Food:
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- Aquatic insects, plant material, crustaceans, and detritus.
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History:
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Uses:
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Reproduction:
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- A prolonged spawning period from late spring to autumn.
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Comments:
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Links:
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Last updated on 29 October 1999
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