Exoglossum laurae

Last updated

Exoglossum laurae
Exoglossum laurae.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Leuciscidae
Subfamily: Pogonichthyinae
Genus: Exoglossum
Species:
E. laurae
Binomial name
Exoglossum laurae
(Hubbs, 1931)
Synonyms
  • Parexoglossum lauraeHubbs, 1931
  • Parexoglossum hubbsiTrautman, 1931

Exoglossum laurae (common name tonguetied minnow) is a species of minnow found in North America.

Contents

Description

The color of the fish ranges from dark gray to brown-black, with purple specks located throughout its body and a white belly. The fish ranges from three to five inches long. The minnow is named for its mouth. [2] The lower mouth is only partially covered with its lips, leaving part of the minnow's jaw exposed. [3] [4] The mouth is horizontal and small. [5]

The minnow has eight dorsal fin-rays, seven anal fin-rays, eight pelvic fin-rays and thirteen to seventeen pectoral fin-rays. [5]

Habitat

The minnow lives throughout Ontario and the Northeastern United States. [5] In the state of Ohio, the minnow is only confirmed to inhabit the Great Miami and Little Miami rivers. [2] The Ohio population of Exoglossum laurae, which is separated from more Eastern populations by several hundred miles, is considered a subspecies. [2]

The minnow is unable to live in murky waters and requires a clean rock river bottom. It also requires a forested river bank. The minnow needs somewhat cool water temperatures to survive. [2]

Behavior

Hunting

The minnow has been categorized as an active hunter of prey, meaning that it will actively leave the safety of natural shelter to hunt prey. The hunting may occur alone or in groups. [6] The primary prey of the minnow is aquatic invertebrates. [2]

Reproduction

The minnow reproduces around the month of May. Male minnows construct a nest of pebbles, which are then used to protect spawned eggs. [2] These nests are actively defended by males. Mating likely occurs over an extended period of time as minnow spawn in various stages of development have been observed in the nests. [5]

Conservation status

Exoglossum laurae has a large population size and is considered common in its range. However, the minnow has experienced habitat loss due to water pollution and the channelization of rivers. The total population of the minnow has declined as a result of these threats. However, it is not deemed to be at risk due to its overall stable population trends and large population size. [1]

Related Research Articles

Minnow Common name for a number of species of small freshwater fish

Minnow is the common name for a number of species of small freshwater fish, belonging to several genera of the family Cyprinidae. They are also known in Ireland as pinkeens.

Bluegill Species of fish

The bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as "bream", "brim", "sunny", or "copper nose" or "perch" as is common in Texas. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes. It is native to North America and lives in streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. It is commonly found east of the Rockies. It usually hides around and inside old tree stumps and other underwater structures. It can live in either deep or very shallow water, and will often move from one to the other depending on the time of day or season. Bluegills also like to find shelter among aquatic plants and in the shade of trees along banks.

Pumpkinseed Species of fish

The pumpkinseed is a North American Freshwater fish of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. It is also referred to as pond perch, common sunfish, punkie, sunfish, sunny, and kivver.

White crappie Species of fish

The white crappie is a freshwater fish found in North America, one of the two species of crappies. Alternate common names for the species include goldring and silver perch. USS Goldring is named for the fish. The genus name Pomoxis refers to crappies' sharp operculum, while the species name annularis means 'having rings', i.e., it has vaguely vertical bars on the body.

<i>Exoglossum maxillingua</i> Species of fish

Exoglossum maxillingua is an olive-green medium-sized minnow of North America with a distinguishing lower jaw. Isolated from all other minnows by its three-lobed lower jaw with the middle lobe sticking out like a tongue. The range of this species is from the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario south into Virginia. It is listed as "threatened" in the Canadian province of Ontario, but may never have been common there as this is the most northerly of its range. It is found in running streams and seems to prefer clear, stony pools but not rapids. The distinctive mouth of the cutlips lets it feed on minuscule shellfish which it scrapes from rocks. Although molluscs appear to be its primary food, it also eats insect larvae and diatoms. An interesting feeding behavior of this species is "eye-picking" when food is scarce or competition is high. The Cutlips will pluck out the eyes of conspecifics or other species as a supplement to its regular diet. A nest builder, the cutlips male constructs a nest of stone, some of which are up to 18 inches across. Spawning happens late in spring when the male attempts to crowd females over its nest. The cutlips is not a popular bait species due to its softened coloration but it takes a hook without much difficulty and is favored in some areas as a choice panfish.

Yellow bullhead Species of fish

The yellow bullhead is a species of bullhead catfish that is a ray-finned fish that lacks scales.

Rosyface shiner Species of fish

The rosyface shiner is a small fresh water fish of the minnow and carp family (Cyprinidae). It is native to eastern North America.

Devils River minnow Species of fish

The Devils River minnow is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. The minnow coexists with other closely related species and other cyprinids in the range of northern Mexico and southern Texas.

Bridle shiner Species of fish

The bridle shiner is a member of the minnow family (Cyprinidae). This species has been identified as being of Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Hornyhead chub Species of fish

The hornyhead chub is a small species of minnow in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It mainly inhabits small rivers and streams of the northern central USA, up into Canada. The adults inhabit faster, rocky pools of rivers.

The bigeye shiner is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Notropis. This fish is a slender, silvery minnow with a dusky lateral stripe and a maximum total length of about 80 mm. Its distinct characteristic is its large-diameter eyes. It is a common species in upland streams of the middle Mississippi River system. Bigeye shiners prefer warm, quiet pools with clear water and silt-free substrates. Siltation, channelization, and gravel dredging are all threats to bigeye shiner populations. During spawning season, typically late April to August, bigeye shiners have several clutches of eggs. State agencies and the EPA have both played a role in the surveying of bigeye shiner populations. Populations have decreased in Ohio due mostly to habitat destruction. In addition to habitat destruction by humans, habitat alteration of the small streams and dried pools has also had a significant effect on abundance. Rivers and streams should not be channelized or modified in any way, which is becoming an increasingly popular trend in urban locations. Agricultural areas and properties within the watershed should adhere to regulations to prevent runoff into the streams.

Western blacknose dace is a common species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae and the genus Rhinichthys. Western blacknose dace have tan to dark brown backs, lighter sides, and cream colored undersides. Dark blotches are sporadically scattered across their sides and backs. A distinctive dark colored mid-lateral stripe from the tip of the snout to the caudal peduncle is present. The snout is relatively long and they have a slightly sub-terminal mouth. The stripe is dark brown in females and is a rusty pink color in males during spawning season. The lateral stripe is more pronounced and the caudal spot is present in juveniles. Similar to other species of dace the western blacknose dace give the illusion of having no scales but in actuality the scales are so small they are hard to see. Western blacknose dace are typically 2-3 inches long but can grow to as long as 4 inches. They have a forked tail, single dorsal fin with 8 rays and no spines, a pelvic fin on the abdominal, no adipose fin, and an anal fin with 7 rays and no spines.

Silverjaw minnow Species of fish

Silverjaw minnows are part of the family Cyprinidae, which includes carps and minnows. With over 300 known species, there are more species of minnows native to North America's fresh waters than any other fish. Minnows can be hard to distinguish because many look alike. All minnows have one dorsal fin, ventral fins near the anus, a lateral line system, and smooth, round cycloid scales. Their jaws lack teeth, but they have one to three rows of pharyngeal teeth to grind food. Defining physical characteristics such as the number and type of fin rays, type of scales, and pattern of pharyngeal teeth are used to distinguish minnows.

The scarlet shiner is a freshwater fish native to the eastern United States.

The river chub is a minnow in the family Cyprinidae. It is one of the most common fishes in North American streams.

Bullhead minnow Species of fish

The bullhead minnow is a species of freshwater demersal fish, native to the southern United States.

The least darter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is generally found in lakes and streams in northeastern part of the United States and along the Mississippi River systems.

Gilt darter Species of fish

The gilt darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It can be found in a number of states in the Mississippi River drainage of the United States although it has been extirpated from some river systems in which it was at one time present, mostly due to siltation and pollution problems. Males are more colorful than females and can grow to a length of about 9 cm (3.5 in). It is a benthic fish that feeds primarily on small aquatic insect larvae. Males form territories during the breeding season in late spring and early summer. Spawning typically takes place at the upper ends of riffles with sandy and gravelly bottoms interspersed with larger cobbles. Some organisations are endeavouring to conserve populations of the gilt darter and re-introduce it to states where the fish has been extirpated but suitable habitat still exists.

<i>Mylocheilus caurinus</i> Species of fish

Mylocheilus caurinus, the peamouth, peamouth chub, redmouth sucker or northwestern dace, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the family Cyprinidae, the carps and minnows, that is found in western North America. It is the only species in its genus.

Bluntnose minnow Species of fish

The bluntnose minnow is a species of temperate freshwater fish belonging to the genus Pimephales of the cyprinid family. Its natural geographic range extends from the Great Lakes south along the Mississippi River basin to Louisiana, and east across the Midwestern United States to New York State. The bluntnose is very ubiquitous, and may be the most common freshwater fish in the Eastern U.S.

References

  1. 1 2 NatureServe (2013). "Exoglossum laurae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T202102A18236031. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202102A18236031.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zimmerman, Brian (2011). Stream Fishes of Ohio Field Guide. Ohio: Ohio Division of Wildlife. p. 15.
  3. Helfrich, Lou. "The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia". Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  4. "Western Tonguetied Minnow". ODNR Division of Wildlife. Ohio Division of Wildlife. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Stauffer, Jay (2007). Fishes of West Virginia. Academy of Natural Sciences. p. 83. ISBN   9781422317839.
  6. Simon, Thomas (1998). Assessing the Sustainability and Biological Integrity of Water Resources Using Fish Communities. CRC Press. p. 131. ISBN   9780849340079.