Fathead Minnow

Pimephales promelas

Summary 5

The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), is a species of temperate freshwater fish belonging to the Pimephales genus of the cyprinid family. The natural geographic range extends throughout much of North America, from central Canada south along the Rockies to Texas, and east to Virginia and the Northeastern United States. This minnow has also been introduced to many other areas via bait bucket releases. Its golden, or xanthic, strain, known as the rosy-red minnow, is a very...

Biology 6

Inhabits muddy pools of headwaters, creeks, small rivers and ponds (Ref. 5723). Also found in lakes (Ref. 10294). Tolerates unsuitable conditions (e.g., turbid, hot, poorly oxygenated, intermittent streams) for most fishes (Ref. 5723). Feeds on detritus and algae (Ref. 10294). Spawns in still-water habitats along shores (Ref. 59043). Introductions consequently caused the spread of the enteric red-mouth disease throughout northern Europe which infected wild and cultured trouts and eels (Ref. 1739). Maintained a relatively high metabolic rate and level of activity under hypoxic conditions (Ref. 77050). Individuals that survived the hypoxic conditions during winter had rapid growth rates after ice-off (Ref. 77048).

Sources and Credits

  1. anonymous, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/usfws/fatheadminnow/medium.jpg
  2. (c) armbrjw@auburn.edu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://images.dev.morphbank.net/?id=819508&imgType=jpg
  3. (c) armbrjw@auburn.edu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://images.dev.morphbank.net/?id=819451&imgType=jpg
  4. (c) armbrjw@auburn.edu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://images.dev.morphbank.net/?id=819454&imgType=jpg
  5. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimephales_promelas
  6. (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/21014765

More Info