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Minnows (Cyprinidae)
Cyprinidae represents the most diverse family of fish in all the world. Presently, over 2000 species and 210 genera have been described (Boschung and Mayden, 2004). Of the 2000 identified species, nearly 300 are found in North America, with the greatest diversity occuring in the waters of the southern United States. Often thought of as small, silvery fish, minnows are actually rich in color, variable in size and shape, and exhibit a wide range of spawning behaviors.
Figure 1. Family level identifiers. Blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus).
Family Level Identifiers (see Fig. 1):
- Body elongate to moderately deep.
- One dorsal fin with nine rays or fewer.
- Abdominal pelvic fin.
- All fins generally soft and flexible.
- Males often tuberculate (see fig. 2) during breeding season.
- More - tips about genus identification.
Habitat: Minnows occupy nearly every freshwater habitat found in North America. However, they are often most abundant in quieter waters, such as pools of small to large-sized streams and glacial lakes. They are known for their tendency to form large schools, which they utilize for protection, enhanced foraging and spawning purposes.
Figure 2. Tuberculate breeding largescale stoneroller (Campostoma oligolepis).
Pollution Tolerance: Pollution tolerance among the cyprinids varies
from species to species. To illustrate this, consider the following: two
geographically ubiquitous minnows, the bluntnose and fathead, are known
to be tolerant of organic pollution and habitat degradation, capable of
living in heavily disturbed and polluted environments. Another cyprinid
with an overlapping distribution, the streamline chub, is only found in
clear streams with silt-free substrates, and serves as an excellent indicator
of high quality habitat.
Use in IBI: Cyprinids are an integral part of IBI scoring in most
regions. For example, Metric 7: Proportion of Individuals as Omnivores
accounts for cyprinids that are generalist feeders, an indicator of stream
degradation (i.e. specialists vs. generalists). Alternatively, Metric
8: Proportion of Individuals as Insectivorous Cyprinids, utilizes specialist
minnow species who feed cheifly on insects as a reflection of disturbance
and/or water quality degradation. Cyprinids such as the creek chub and
some dace species are often substituted for green sunifish in Metric 6:
Percent Green Sunfish. In certain regions, Metric 4: Number and Identity
of Sucker Species is changed to Number and Identity of Minnow Species.
Additionally, pollution intolerant cyprinids would be accounted for in
Metric 5: Number and Identity of Intolerant Species.
| Species Name | Common Name | Pollution Tolerance | Habitat Disturbance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campostoma anomalum | Central Stoneroller | M | MI |
| Campostoma oligolepi | Largescale Stoneroller | M | I |
| Carassius auratus | Goldfish | T | T |
| Clinostomus elongates | Redside Dace | I | NR |
| Clinostomus funduloides | Rosyside Dace | I | NR |
| Ctenopharyngodon idella | Grass Carp | M | MT |
| Cyprinella monacha Spotfin | Chub | T | NR |
| Cyprinella spiloptera Spotfin | Shiner | M | I |
| Cyprinella whipplei Steelcolor | Shiner | M | MI |
| Cyprinus carpio | Common Carp | T | T |
| Erimystax dissimilis | Streamline Chub | I | NR |
| Erimystax x-punctatus | Gravel Chub | M | I |
| Exoglossum laurae | Tonguetied Minnow | I | NR |
| Hypophthalmichthys molitrix | Silver Carp | T | NR |
| Luxilus chrysocephalus | Striped Shiner | M | MI |
| Luxilus cornutus | Common Shiner | M | NR |
| Lythrurus ardens | Rosefin Shiner | M | NR |
| Lythrurus umbratilis | Redfin Shiner | M | MI |
| Macrhybopsis aestivalis | Speckled Chub | I | I |
| Nocomis biguttatus | Horneyhead Chub | I | NR |
| Nocomis micropogon | River Chub | I | NR |
| Notemigonus crysoleucas | Golden Shiner | T | T |
| Notropis amblops | Bigeye Chub | I | I |
| Notropis atherinoides | Emerald Shiner | M | MT |
| Notropis buccatus | Silverjaw minnow | M | NR |
| Notropis heterodon | Blackchin Shiner | I | NR |
| Notropis photogenis | Silver Shiner | I | NR |
| Notropis rubellus | Rosyface Shiner | I | I |
| Notropis stramineus | Sand Shiner | M | MI |
| Notropis volucellus | Mimic Shiner | I | MI |
| Phenacobius mirabilis | Suckermouth Minnow | M | I |
| Phoxinus eos | Northern Redbelly Dace | M | NR |
| Phoxinus erythrogaster | Southern Redbelly Dace | M | I |
| Pimephales notatus | Bluntnose Minnow | T | MT |
| Pimephales promelas | Fathead Minnow | T | T |
| Rhinichthys atratulus | Blacknose Dace | T | NR |
| Rhinichthys cataractae | Longnose Dace | I | NR |
| Semotilus atromaculatus | Chub | T | MI |
| Pollution Tolerance | Habitat Disturbance |
|---|---|
| T = Tolerant | T = Tolerant |
| M = Intermediate | MT = Moderately Tolerant |
| I = Intolerant | MI = Moderately Intolerant |
| NR = No ranking | I = Intolerant |
| NR = No ranking |