Finescale dace

Last updated

Finescale dace
FMIB 39010 Bronze minnow (Phosinus neogaeus).jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Leuciscinae
Clade: Laviniinae
Genus: Chrosomus
Species:
C. neogaeus
Binomial name
Chrosomus neogaeus
(Cope, 1867)  [2]
Synonyms
  • Phoxinus neogaeusCope, 1867
  • Leuciscus neogaeus(Cope, 1867)
  • Pfrille neogaea(Cope, 1867)

The finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is native to the northern portions of Minnesota, [3] with relatively smaller populations in northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire (where C. neogaeus is found in only Connecticut and Androscoggin River drainages north of the White Mountains), and Maine. [4]

Contents

Distribution

The finescale dace occupies the regions ranging across the southern and northwest parts of Canada to areas of Minnesota, and more southward to the areas that lie near the Great Lakes Basin. [5] The populations have been shown to inhabit areas in Minnesota including Brule Lake, as well as those bodies of water occupying the Lake Superior drainage areas of St. Louis and Cook counties. [5] This species has also been found to live in the Great Lakes drainage stream regions of Wisconsin (although rarely seen in southern parts of Wisconsin). [6] Although more northernly distributed, they have been seen to exist as Glacial relict populations in the Sand Hills of Nebraska, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Colorado, and parts of Wyoming. [5]

Description

Finescale dace gets its name from the fine scales running along its body [3] The species is characterized by its large, blunt head, and dark lateral bands running parallel to the length of its bronze and black body. On each lateral line there may be more than 80 scales. These scales are classified as leptoid scales. The leptoid scales are thin and flexible and cover the extent of the body. Leptoid scales are divided in two groups of specificity. The finescale dace has what are called ctenoid scales, called this because of the cteni that run along the posterior area of the fish. A lateral line system exists on the fish and allows it to orient itself in moving water. Main row teeth are distributed 5-4 usually, but have been seen as 4-4, 4-5, and 5-5 as well. [6] The fish has paired fins lying on the pectoral and pelvic fins. The pectoral fins lie on the sides of the body. The pelvic fins are placed in the thoracic position. They range in size from 60 to 70 millimeters (2.4 to 2.8 in) long, about the length of an average person's thumb.

Ecology

This fish is most often found in the cool, acidic waters of the north. [7] More specifically, they are found in the calm waters of slow-moving creeks and in cool, boggy ponds. [3] Beaver ponds provide an excellent habitat, as they are found hidden in the safety among sunken logs and downed brush. [3] They prey on tiny invertebrates including small insects such water beetles. [3] Their diet also includes a variety of crustaceans, plankton, algae, and in the Northern parts of Minnesota, fingernail clams. [7]

Importance to humans

Finescale daces are predated on by a multitude of species including diving beetles, mink, brook trout, and kingfishers, but however, are not consumed by humans. [3] Instead, they are sold as bait in many parts of Minnesota and Canada. [7]

Conservation status

No concern is taken for the populations of finescale dace. Their resiliency and sturdiness make them a great species for the bait industry in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada, as well as pets in home aquariums. [3]

Life cycle

Breeding begins in April and ends in June, when the internal temperature of the streams heat to at least 15 degrees Celsius. The yellow and red colors exhibited in the pigments on the underside of a male's body during breeding season alerts the female of sexual readiness. The brightly colored pigments attracted the more muted colored females to large indentations in the sandy bottom of the stream, underneath waterlogged timber and brush. [3] The pair will shoot into the indentation together and the female will proceed to lay her eggs while the male begins to fertilize them with his sperm. [3] The eggs settle on the bottom of the floor and are left unattended by both parents. This breeding process takes in total only fifteen to thirty seconds.

The spawning continues for several more days, which exhausts the female. She may lay several hundred more eggs in the span of the spawning season, depending much on her size and reproductive fitness. [3] the eggs rest in the depressions and will hatch in 4 days if they have successfully avoided predation. [7]

The finescale dace has been seen to reproduce with the northern redbelly dace, Chrosomus eos , but produces hybrid offspring that are always females. [7]

It is advantageous for females to grow larger and live longer than males. This way, they can reproduce longer and produce more supple eggs. Recorded in Minnesota, the largest documented female was measured at 85 mm (3.3 in) long at approximately six years of age. [3] In a similar location, the largest recorded male was 58 mm (2.3 in) long and roughly five years of age. However, it is typical to find both sexes living to three or four years at an average length of 60–70 mm (2.4–2.8 in) long. [3]

Etymology

The species name Neogaeus comes from the Greek word meaning "new world". [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common roach</span> Species of fish

The roach, or rutilus roach, also known as the common roach, is a fresh- and brackish-water fish of the family Cyprinidae, native to most of Europe and western Asia. Fish called roach can be any species of the genera Rutilus and Hesperoleucus, depending on locality. The plural of the term is also roach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern redbelly dace</span> Fresh water cyprinid fish

The northern redbelly dace is a fresh water cyprinid fish, generally found in lakes and small streams in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Ranging from 1-3 inches, it is one of forty-four species from the minnow and carp family of Cyprinidae in these areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake chub</span> Species of fish

The lake chub is a freshwater cyprinid fish found in Canada and in parts of the United States. Of all North American minnows, it is the one with the northernmost distribution. Its genus, Couesius is considered monotypic today. The genus was named after Elliott Coues, who collected the holotype specimen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slimy sculpin</span> Species of fish

The slimy sculpin is a freshwater species of fish belonging to the family Cottidae, which is the largest sculpin family. They usually inhabit cold rocky streams or lakes across North America, ranging from the Great Lakes, southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, southwest Wisconsin and northeast Canada. Slimy sculpins have also been found roaming the cold streams of eastern Siberia. They are commonly confused with their closely related relatives, Mottled sculpin, and with tubenose gobies who are both freshwater fishes as well. The slimy sculpin is a nocturnal fish that usually spends most of its time on the stream bottom and seeks shelter under rocks and logs, especially during spawning season. When it swims, it sometimes appears to be "hopping" along the bottom because of its inefficient ability to swim. This is partly due to the absence of a swim bladder, which normally gives buoyancy to a fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longnose dace</span> Species of fish

The longnose dace is a freshwater minnow native to North America. Rhinicthys means snout fish and cataractae means of the cataract. Longnose dace are small, typically less than 100 mm and characterized by their fleshy snout that protrudes past the mouth. They are well adapted for living on the bottom of fast-flowing streams among stones. Longnose dace eat algae and aquatic insects and are important forage minnows for larger predatory fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheepshead minnow</span> Species of fish

The sheepshead minnow, also known as sheepshead pupfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinodontidae, the pupfishes. It is found in salt marsh and estuary environments and is native to the eastern coasts of North and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern redbelly dace</span> Species of fish

The southern redbelly dace, is a North American species of temperate freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. The natural geographic range extends from Western New York to Minnesota, and south to Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Alabama. This fish prefers flowing pools of creeks and streams.

The Tennessee dace is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found only in the United States; particularly in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, and parts of extreme northwest Georgia. Until recently, they were considered a subspecies of mountain redbelly dace. They are commonly found in East Tennessee in spring fed first-order streams, often in silt and fine gravel pools, or undercut banks. These streams usually do not exceed two meters in width.

<i>Semotilus atromaculatus</i> Species of fish

Semotilus atromaculatus, known as the creek chub or the common creek chub, is a small minnow, a freshwater fish found in the eastern US and Canada. Differing in size and color depending on origin of development, the creek chub can usually be defined by a dark brown body with a black lateral line spanning horizontally across the body. It lives primarily within streams and rivers. Creek chubs attain lengths of 2-6 inches with larger specimens of up to 12 inches possible. The genus name Semotilus derives from the Greek word sema, and atromaculatus comes from the Latin word "black spots".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackchin shiner</span> Species of fish

The blackchin shiner is an abundant North American species of freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae. Described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1865, it is not a well-known species. It is a close relative of the blacknose shiner. Chiefly occurring now in the Great Lakes and occasionally in upper Mississippi River drainages, the blackchin once ranged commonly as far south as Illinois and Ohio. This fish resides over sandy bottoms in cool waters that provide a lot of cover for the small minnow. Omnivorous, it eats worms and small arthropods as well as plant material. Blackchin shiners are unique because of their anatomical features, such as the black coloring, the incomplete lateral line, and a distinctive dental arrangement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern blacknose dace</span> Species of fish

Eastern blacknose dace is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Rhinichthys. Its name originates from the Old French word "dars" which is the nominative form of the word "dart" in reference to their swimming pattern. The western blacknose dace formerly was considered conspecific. While morphologically the two species are not significantly different, they are allopatric. The eastern blacknose dace is found across the southeast portion of Canada and down along the United States' east coast. It is dark brown to olive on its dorsal surface and silvery white below, the two shades separated by the darkly pigmented lateral line. In the breeding season, males develop darker pigmentation and an orange lateral line. Blacknose dace live in rocky streams and rivers where they feed upon small invertebrates and microscopic biological matter and provide forage for larger fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ironcolor shiner</span> Species of fish

The ironcolor shiner is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the family Cyprinidae, the minnows and carps. It is a widespread species in streams and rivers in eastern North America.

Noturus flavus, the stonecat, is a North American freshwater catfish of the family Ictaluridae. The common name is due to its habit of hiding near or under stones in fast-moving water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadpole madtom</span> Species of fish

The tadpole madtom is a species of fish in the family Ictaluridae. It is native to Canada and the United States.

<i>Etheostoma exile</i> Species of fish

Etheostoma exile, the Iowa 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, along with about 17 other species of darters, is native to the lakes and streams of Iowa.

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.

Percina phoxocephala, the slenderhead 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 found in North America in the central Ohio and Mississippi River basins, to northeastern South Dakota and the Lake Winnebago system in Wisconsin, and as far south as the Red River in eastern Oklahoma and northeast Texas, typically in small to medium size rivers. It is a colorful species, with an average length of 6 to 9 centimeters. Males take on a deeper hue during the breeding season. It feeds on insect larvae and other small invertebrates, and spawns between April and June. It is a common fish with a very wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurel dace</span> Species of fish

The laurel dace is a species of freshwater minnow native to the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was first discovered in 1976. A very rare species, it has only been found in localized populations in six small streams on the Walden Ridge portion of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. It is found in six streams: the Soddy, Horn, Cupp, Young's, Moccasin, and Bumbee Creeks, all of which drain into larger rivers that eventually feed the Tennessee River. It is believed to be extirpated from Laurel Creek, the only other stream where it was known to occur.

<i>Chrosomus</i> Genus of fishes

Chrosomus is a genus of small cyprinid fish found in freshwater habitats in the eastern half of the United States and Canada. There are currently seven recognized species in this genus. They have sometimes been included in Phoxinus. They are the only members of the predominantly western subfamily Laviniinae that are found in eastern North America.

<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.

References

  1. NatureServe (2013). "Chrosomus neogaeus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T184089A15363917. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T184089A15363917.en .
  2. Nicolas Bailly (2011). Nicolas Bailly (ed.). "Phoxinus neogaeus Cope, 1867". FishBase . World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Nicole Paulson & Jay T. Hatch (23 October 2002). "Finescale Dace". Fishes of Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources . Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  4. Department, NH Fish and Game. "Profiles | Fishing | New Hampshire Fish and Game Department". www.wildlife.state.nh.us. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Carl L. Hubbs & Karl F. Lagler (1964). Fishes of the Great Lakes Region. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
  6. 1 2 Samuel Eddy & Thaddeus Surber (1943). Northern Fishes, with Special Reference to the Upper Mississippi Valley. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Earl J. S. Rook (17 October 1999). "Finescale Dace". Rook.Org. Pacific Northwest Networks. Retrieved 3 May 2011.