Minnow is the common name for a number of

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

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 ...

of the families

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 v ...

and Leuciscidae. They are also known in Ireland as pinkeens. Smaller fish in the subfamily Leusciscidae are considered by anglers to be "true" minnows.

Types of minnows

Bluntnose minnow (''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 5 cm (2 in). ' Pimephales'' Common shiner (''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 13 cm (5 in) at adulthood. Another common "shiner" bait fish is the young version of the

European chub ''Squalius cephalus'' is a European species of freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It frequents both slow and moderate rivers, as well as canals and still waters of various kinds. This species is referred to as the common chub, Europe ...

(''Leuciscus cephalus'' or ''Squalius cephaloides'') which is quite easy to catch. ''Notropis potteri'' is known as the

chub shiner The chub shiner (''Notropis potteri'') is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Notropis''. it is found in the Brazos River drainage of Texas and Red River drainage of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. It is also found in limited a ...

. 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 la ...

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 fisherman 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'' * Cutlips minnow, a species in the genus '' Exoglossum'' * Desert minnows, fishes in the genus '' Dionda'' * Eurasian minnows, fishes in the genus '' Phoxinus'' *

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 Ame ...

(rosy-red minnow), a species in the genus '' Pimephales'' * Loach minnow, 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 No ...

'' *

Short levered minnow Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated place People * Short (surname) * List of people known as t ...

, a species of the genus '' Minnellinus'' * Pikeminnows, fishes in the genus '' Ptychocheilus'' *

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'' * Silverjaw minnow, a species in the genus '' Notropis'' * Longjaw minnow, a species in the genus '' Ericymba'' * Silvery minnows, fishes in the genus '' Hybognathus'' * Suckermouth minnows, fishes in the genus '' Phenacobius'' * Vietnamese cardinal minnow, a species in the genus '' Tanichthys'' * White Cloud Mountain minnow, a species in the genus '' Tanichthys'' Other fish specifically called minnows include * in the Southern Hemisphere, some fish in the family Galaxiidae, in particular those of genus '' Galaxias'' * in Southeast Asia, the danionins * 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 Dubou ...

, a vernacular name for the Common galaxias * the

pike topminnow The pike topminnow (''Belonesox belizanus''), more commonly known as pike killifish and sometimes referred to as topminnow, is a species of poeciliid found from Mexico to Nicaragua. It has also been introduced to Florida, USA. It is the only know ...

(''

Belonesox belizanus The pike topminnow (''Belonesox belizanus''), more commonly known as pike killifish and sometimes referred to as topminnow, is a species of poeciliid found from Mexico to Nicaragua. It has also been introduced to Florida, USA. It is the only know ...

'') 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 water, brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (''i.e.'' holarctic in distribution). They are kno ...

, ('' Esox lucius''), 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 inches ...

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

* * {{forage fish Fish common names Minnows

Types of minnows

As food

Threats and conservation issues

See also

References

External links