Distribution in local area:
Cannon Lake, Jimmies Lake, Little
Coot Lake, Mayo Lake,
Name:
Semotilus, from the Greek, sema,
"banner", referring to the dorsal fin; and
the second part meant to mean "spotted"
atromaculatus, from the Latin, "black spot"
Common name from its preferred habitat
Other common names include: Blackspot Chub, Brook Chub,
Common Chub, Horned Dace ( from breeding tubercles),
Mud Chub, Northern Creek Chub, Silvery Chub, Tommycod,
Mulet à cornes
Taxonomy:
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata, animals with a spinal chord
Subphylum Vertebrata, animals with a backbone
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 Semotilus, the creek chubs
Description:
A larger minnow of smaller streams
Length:
To 8"-10"
Coloration:
black or bluish, olive to purplish
above
silvery below
lateral stripe from tip of snout to base of tail fin
can appear striped because of the dark color above,
light streak just above the dark lateral line, and then
white beneath.
wedge-shaped spot at base of tail
dark spot in first 3 rays at the base of dorsal fin
fins may become light yellowish to light olive in color
intensity of the lateral stripe and dorsal color dependent
upon water clarity, darker individuals coming from clearer
waters
Body:
stout and robust
dorsal fin set behind the base of the pelvic fins
anal fins of 8 rays
pectoral fins of 16/17 rays
pelvic fins of 8 rays
body scales very small, appearing cross-hatched on upper
back and sides.
lateral line scales from 49 to 64 in number, sometimes
interrupted by missing pores
Head:
broad and blunt
very large mouth, slightly oblique, extends to below
the eye
small, flap-like barbel in groove in middle of upper
jaw
single, small barbel in the corner of each jaw, sometimes
hidden between the maxillary and premaxillary
hooked pharyngeal teeth, on stout arches, in two rows,
with a 2, 5-4, 2 pattern.
Lifespan:
During spring spawning season,
males take on a bright, rosy coloration and develop
at least four large tubercles on each side of their
heads.
Identification:
Distinguished from other minnows
by
a black spot in the first 3 rays of the dorsal fin
a very large mouth
a small, flap-like barbel in the groove in the middle
of the upper jaw
a wedged-shaped spot at the base of the tail
Adults are most easily identified by the dark spot at
the base of the dorsal fin.
Habitat:
Small to medium-sized streams
with silt-free gravel bars.
Will endure turbidity provided the current sweeps the
gravel free of silt.
Creek chubs often inhabit trout streams.
Food:
Primarily aquatic and terrestrial
insects, insect larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, and small
fishes, along with incidental ingestion of algae and
other minute plants.
An important forage fish for larger predacious sport
fish and a competitor with them for aquatic insect and
crustaceans.
Uses:
Small creek chubs are often
used as bait, because they are hardy, abundant, and
easily kept in confinement.
Provide some angling in small streams, particularly
for the young fishermen, and are an excellent food fish.
Reproduction:
Spawning occurs March to May
at water temperatures of 12.5-19.5°C.
Males prepare a nest by mounding up gravel about 3"
high and several feet in length using the snout and
mouth.
Eggs are deposited in the nest by one or more females
over a period of 2 weeks and covered with gravel by
the male as nest building continues. Fecundity is about
1,115-7,539 eggs per female. The male guards the nest
against intruders with tubercle displays or swimming
in a ritualized combative posture.
Mature at age 1 or 2
Attains full size after 4 years of life.
During the spring spawning season,
male creek chubs take on a bright, rosy coloration and
develop at least four large tubercles on each side of
their heads. |
