Distribution in the area:
Jamieson Lake, Jimmies Lake,
Ledyard Lake, Mink Lake,
Name:
Semotilus, from the Greek, sema,
"banner"; and the second part meant to mean
"spotted"
margarita, from the Greek, "pearl"
Common name
Other common names include: Nachtrieb Dace, Northern
Dace, Northern Pearl Dace, Northern Minnow
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
Minnesota Pearl Dace are of the subspecies Semotilus
margarita nachtriebi, named after Professor Henry Nachtrieb,
of the University of Minnesota and former director of
the Minnesota Zoological Survey.
Also known as Margariscus margarita
Description:
A stout-bodied, cold water
minnow.
Length:
up to 6", 3"-4"
average
Coloration:
dusky mottled on the upper sides
(many of the scale pockets on the sides are darkened,
giving the mottled appearance) silver grey to white
on the lower sides
white belly usually a dark spot near the base of the
tail dark lateral band is distinct on the young, but
fades in adults adult males have orange-red sides below
the lateral band females may also show some color during
spawning
Body:
elongated form, nearly cylindrical
in cross section usually complete lateral line of 62-78
scales dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins of 8 rays pectoral
fins of 15/16 rays
Head:
mouth terminal, nearly horizontal
with the upper jaw, separated from the snout by a groove
small barbel in the groove of the upper jaw (occasionally
lacking)
hooked pharyngeal teeth in a 2, 5-4, 2 pattern, but
count is variable.
During the breeding season, males have a pink to red-tinted
stripe along their lower sides, and the upper sides
of the pectoral fins bear paired rows of small, sharp
tubercles.
Habitat:
Cool bogs, ponds, lakes, creeks,
and clear streams.
Cool, boggy waters of lakes and ponds and in the cold
headwater streams often associated with trout.
Associates:
Feeds on algae, aquatic insects,
free-floating animal plankton, and a variety of other
small aquatic organisms.
A forage fish for larger sport fishes in some waters.
Reproduction:
Spawns
in late spring to early summer, in clear water at 13-25°C,
with a weak to moderate current, over sand or gravel
streams. No nest is built, but the small spawning area
is guarded by the male. Mature in 1 year
Fecundity is 900-2,140 eggs per female
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