Name:
|
- Rhinichthys, from the Greek, "snout fish"
- cataractae, from the Greek, "of the cataract"
- Common Name from the extended snout
- Other common names include: Stream Skater
|
Taxonomy:
|
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata,
- Subphylum Vertebrata,
- 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 Rhinichthys, the riffle daces
|
Description:
|
- A minnow of rapids and swift flowing streams.
- Length up to 6", usually 2"-3"
- Weight
- Coloration
- olive-green to brown on back and upper sides
- shading to white on the belly
- mottled appearance due to presence of darkened scale pockets
- lateral band indistinct in adults
- silver peritoneum speckled with brown covers the gut cavity
- breeding males washed with pink on the lower portions of the body
- Body
- complete lateral line of 61-73 scales
- dorsal and pelvic fins of 8 rays
- anal fin of 7 rays
- pectoral fins of from 13-15 rays
- Head
- hooked pharyngeal teeth in a 2, 4-4, 2 pattern, but formula may vary.
- upper jaw and snout greatly overhang the lower jaw
- barbel present at the tip of the maxillar
- Lifespan
|
Identification:
|
- Distinguished from the closely related Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys
atratus) by:
- habitat preference for swift flowing waters
- absence of blotching on sides
- snout extending far beyond the end of the upper jaw
|
Distribution:
|
- Northwestern Canada through the Great Lakes to the eastern US.
|
Habitat:
|
- Prefers small streams, generally in riffles of gravel and boulder.
- Often found in turbulent waters. Also the wave lashed shores of very
large lakes (Superior, Lake of the Woods, etc)
- Often found in trout streams.
|
Food:
|
- Aquatic insect larvae, worms, and algae.
|
History:
|
|
Uses:
|
- Sometimes used as bait and are quite hardy.
|
Reproduction:
|
- Spawns late spring to early summer, in riffles over gravel and rubble.
- Both the male and female construct a nest of small pebbles.
- After spawning, little parental care is given the eggs.
|
Comments:
|
|
Links:
|
|
|
Last updated on 17 October 1999
|
