Minnow is the common name for a number of

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of small freshwater fish, belonging to several

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

of the family

Cyprinidae Cyprinidae is a family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family. It includes the carps, the true minnows, and relatives like the barbs and barbels. Cyprinidae is the largest and most diverse fish family and the largest verte ...

and in particular the subfamily

Leuciscinae Leuciscinae is a subfamily of the freshwater fish family Cyprinidae, which contains the true minnows. Members of the Old World (OW) clade of minnows within this subfamily are known as European minnows. As the name suggests, most members of the O ...

. They are also known in Ireland as pinkeens. While the common name can refer to a range of taxa, smaller fish in the subfamily Leusciscinae are considered by anglers to be "true" minnows.

Types of minnows

Bluntnose minnow :''"Bluntnose minnows" is also used for the genus ''Pimephales'' as a whole.'' The bluntnose minnow (''Pimephales notatus)'' is a species of temperate freshwater fish belonging to the genus ''Pimephales'' of the cyprinid family. Its natural geogra ...

(''Pimephales notatus''): The bluntnose minnow is a primary bait fish for Northern America, and has a very high tolerance for variable water qualities, which helps its distribution throughout many regions. The snout of the bluntnose minnow overhangs the mouth, giving it the bluntnose. There is a dark lateral line which stretches from the opercle to the base of the tail, where a large black spot is located. The average size of the adult is approximately .

Common shiner The common shiner (''Luxilus cornutus'') is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, found in North America. It ranges in length between 4 and 6 inches, although they can reach lengths of up to 8 inches. Description The common shiner is ...

(''Notropis cornutus)'': These fish are one of the most common type of bait fish and are almost exclusively stream dwellers. The common shiner can be identified by the nine rays on its anal fin and terminal mouth. This minnow is typically bluish silver on the sides and greenish blue on the back., save for breeding season in which case the male gains a rose colored tail and anal fin. The shiner grows about 5–10 cm (2–4 in) within one year and reach a size of at adulthood. ''Notropis potteri'' is known as the chub shiner. Common emerald shiner (''Notropis atherinoides atherinoides''): Common shiners are most abundant in the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...

of North America, primarily Lake Erie. The name of the emerald shiner comes from the greenish emerald band that expands from the back of the gill cover to the tail. This type of minnow has a short, rounded snout, the only difference between the common emerald shiner and the silver shiner is that the silver shiner has a longer snout and a larger eye. These fish grow to an average length of about 6 cm. This is one of the most common bait fish used in the Lake Erie region of Ohio and many fishermen hold it over all other bait. *

Cheat minnow The cheat minnow (''Pararhinichthys bowersi'') is a demersal, freshwater fish endemic to the United States, most commonly found in the Ohio River basin. It is the only species in the genus Pararhinichthys. Its taxonomic status is debatable and ' ...

, a species in the genus ''

Pararhinichthys The cheat minnow (''Pararhinichthys bowersi'') is a demersal, freshwater fish endemic to the United States, most commonly found in the Ohio River basin. It is the only species in the genus Pararhinichthys. Its taxonomic status is debatable and ...

'' *

Cutlips minnow :''"Cutlips minnows" is also used for the genus ''Exoglossum'' as a whole.'' ''Exoglossum maxillingua'' (cutlips minnow) is an olive-green medium-sized minnow (average 6 inches) of North America with a distinguishing lower jaw. Isolated f ...

, a species in the genus ''

Exoglossum ''Exoglossum'' is a genus of mound-building freshwater fish of the minnow family ( Cyprinidae) containing two species, commonly known as cutlip minnows, although the individual species, particularly ''Exoglossum maxillingua'', are also locally ...

'' * Desert minnows, fishes in the genus ''

Dionda ''Dionda'' is the genus of desert minnows, small fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. They are native to fresh waters in the United States and Mexico. Their range is centered in the Rio Grande basin, but they also occur in associated systems ...

'' * Eurasian minnows, fishes in the genus ''

Phoxinus ''Phoxinus'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Leuciscidae of order Cypriniformes, and the only members of the subfamily Phoxininae, or Eurasian minnows. The type species is ''Phoxinus phoxinus''. The other species in this genus are al ...

'' *

Fathead minnow Fathead minnow (''Pimephales promelas''), also known as fathead or tuffy, is a species of temperate freshwater fish belonging to the genus ''Pimephales'' of the cyprinid family. The natural geographic range extends throughout much of North Ameri ...

(rosy-red minnow), a species in the genus ''

Pimephales ''Pimephales'', commonly known as the bluntnose minnows (a term used locally to refer to ''Pimephales notatus'' specifically), is a genus of cyprinid fish found in North America. All of the four species are small fish, with ''P. notatus'' being t ...

'' *

Loach minnow The loach minnow (''Rhinichthys cobitis'') is a species of Fresh water, freshwater fish. It is a member of the carp family (biology), family (family Cyprinidae) of order (biology), order Cypriniformes. It occurs in streams and small rivers through ...

, a species of the genus ''

Rhinichthys ''Rhinichthys'', known as the riffle daces, is a genus of freshwater fish in the carp family (Cyprinidae) of the order Cypriniformes. The type species is ''Rhinichthys atratulus'', the blacknose dace. ''Rhinichthys'' species range throughout Nor ...

'' * Balkan minnows, of the genus ''

Pelasgus In Greek mythology, Pelasgus ( grc, Πελασγός, ''Pelasgós'' means "ancient") was the eponymous ancestor of the Pelasgians, the mythical inhabitants of Greece who established the worship of the Dodonaean Zeus, Hephaestus, the Cabeiri, and ot ...

'' * Ozark minnow, a species in the genus ''

Notropis ''Notropis'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are known commonly as eastern shiners.''No ...

'' *

Pikeminnows Pikeminnows, formerly squawfish, are cyprinid fish of the genus ''Ptychocheilus'' consisting of four species native to western North America. Voracious predators, they are considered an "undesirable" species in many waters, largely due to the spe ...

, fishes in the genus ''

Ptychocheilus Pikeminnows, formerly squawfish, are cyprinid fish of the genus ''Ptychocheilus'' consisting of four species native to western North America. Voracious predators, they are considered an "undesirable" species in many waters, largely due to the spe ...

'' *

Pugnose minnow The pugnose minnow (''Opsopoeodus emiliae'') is a species of cyprinid fish found in the eastern North America. There are two recognized subspecies with the subspecies from Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of ...

, a species in the genus ''

Opsopoeodus The pugnose minnow (''Opsopoeodus emiliae'') is a species of cyprinid fish found in the eastern North America. There are two recognized subspecies with the subspecies from Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of ...

'' * Rhodes minnow, a species in the genus ''

Squalius ''Squalius'' is a genus of fish in the family Cyprinidae found in Europe and Asia. Hybridization is not rare in the Cyprinidae, including this genus. '' S. alburnoides'' is known to be of ancient hybrid origin, with the paternal lineage deriving ...

'' *

Silverjaw minnow Silverjaw minnows (''Ericymba buccata'') are part of the family Cyprinidae, which includes carps and minnows. With over 300 known species, there are more species of minnows native to North America's fresh waters than any other fish. Minnows can ...

Longjaw minnow The longjaw minnow (''Ericymba amplamala'') is a species of cyprinid fish that is endemic to the United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country prima ...

, species in the genus ''

Ericymba ''Ericymba'' is a genus of fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are native to North America.Yang, L., Sado, T., Hirt, M.V., Pasco-Viel, E., Arunachalam, M., Li, J., Wang, X., Freyhof, J., Saitoh, K., Simons, A.M., Miya, M., He, S. & Mayden, R.L. ...

'' * Silvery minnows, fishes in the genus ''

Hybognathus ''Hybognathus'' is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. Its members are collectively known as the silvery minnows. Hybognathus are pelagophils that are native to North America. The populations of such pelagophils, including specie ...

'' * Suckermouth minnows, fishes in the genus ''

Phenacobius ''Phenacobius'', the suckermouth minnows, is a genus of cyprinid fishes endemic to the United States. Historically the suckermouth minnow was not found as far eastward as Ohio, now they seem to be a stable species living throughout the Midwest an ...

'' *

White Cloud Mountain minnow The White Cloud Mountain minnow (''Tanichthys albonubes'') is a hardy species of freshwater fish and coldwater fish often kept in an aquarium. The species is a member of the carp family (family Cyprinidae) of the order Cypriniformes, native to C ...

/Vietnamese cardinal minnow, species in the genus ''

Tanichthys ''Tanichthys'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the carp family ( Cyprinidae) of order Cypriniformes. They are native to rivers and streams in China and Vietnam. Until recently, the type species, ''T. albonubes,'' was the only one known. In 2 ...

'' Other fish specifically called minnows include * in the Southern Hemisphere, some fish in the family Galaxiidae, in particular those of genus ''

Galaxias ''Galaxias'' is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family (biology), family Galaxiidae, and are frequently referred to as the galaxiids. These highly adaptable fish are typically found at temperate latitudes across the Southern Hemisphere. ...

'' * in Southeast Asia, the

danionin The danionins are a group of small, minnow-type fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. Members of this group are mostly in the genera ''Danio'', ''Devario'', and ''Rasbora''._They_are_primarily_native_to_the_s_...''._They_are_primarily_native_t ...

s, including Razorbelly minnows * the Drakensberg minnow (''

Labeobarbus aspius ''Labeobarbus aspius'', the Drakensberg minnow or Maluti minnow, is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to the Congo Democratic Republic. References * aspius ''Leuciscus'' is a genus of fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. They are in ...

'') from the Congo Democratic Republic * the Maluti minnow (''Pseudobarbus quathlambae'') from Lesotho * the Falklands minnow from the

Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouzet ...

, a vernacular name for the

Common galaxias The common galaxias (''Galaxias maculatus'') or inanga (from the Māori ''īnanga'') is a very widespread Southern Hemisphere fish in the family Galaxiidae. It is a slim, narrow fish with a forked tail and a mottled, spotty pattern, typically a ...

* the pike topminnow ('' Belonesox belizanus'') are confused for the

northern pike The northern pike (''Esox lucius'') is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus '' Esox'' (the pikes). They are typical of brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (''i.e.'' holarctic in distribution). They are known simply as a ...

, (''

Esox lucius The northern pike (''Esox lucius'') is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus ''Esox'' (the pikes). They are typical of brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (''i.e.'' holarctic in distribution). They are known simply as a p ...

''), also called "minnow" for the little size. * the minnows of the deep (''

Cyclothone ''Cyclothone'' is a genus containing 13 extant species of bioluminescent fish, commonly known as 'bristlemouths' or 'bristlefishes' due to their shared characteristic of sharp, bristle-like teeth. These fishes typically grow to around 1-3 inche ...

sp.''), small bioluminescent bristlemouth fish approximately long Anderson Farms in Lonoke, Arkansas

As food

While primarily used for bait, minnows can also be eaten directly by humans. Some Native American cultures have used minnows as food. If minnows are small enough, they can be eaten whole.

Threats and conservation issues

Generally, minnows breed with the slightest rainfall and within a wide temperature range. Contrary to the long-standing presumptions, climate change poses 'negligible' threat to minnows' reproduction. Minnows are also flexible in attaining pre-spawning fitness, which makes them avoid 'skipped spawning' decisions while facing climatic variabilities.

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Fish common names Minnows

Types of minnows

As food

Threats and conservation issues

See also

References

External links