The eastern mudminnow (''Umbra pygmaea'') is a species of freshwater fish belonging to the family

Umbridae Umbridae is a family of fish in the order Esociformes, which contains pike, pickerel, and mudminnows. The single living genus, ''Umbra'', occupies weed-choked freshwater habitats in eastern North America and eastern Europe. While the family trad ...

. It is native to eastern North America, but has been introduced to Europe. It feeds primarily on insect

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e and other small aquatic

invertebrates Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chordat ...

Description

It is an elongated, stout-bodied fish, brown or yellow-green in color, with about 10 or more dark, narrow, lateral stripes separated by pale spaces, although there is no lateral line on the fish. The pelvic fin lies somewhat farther back on the body, such that it rests below the dorsal fin. The body is elongated, and the maximum size of the fish is .

Distribution and habitat

The native range of the eastern mudminnow is from New York to

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, and found as west as

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. It has also been introduced to Europe, where it can be found in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Poland. It is generally found in still or slow-moving waters, often in dense vegetation, often over heavily vegetated streams, swamps, and ponds. The eastern mudminnow has shown great adaptability to poor habitats with low pH, temperature, and presence of oxygen. At least one incident has been documented where an eastern mudminnow has survived an entire night out of water. The fish can be found in waters with a pH ranging from 3.5 to 8.1 in natural environments. The optimal pH for growth is 4.5, which is often detrimental or even fatal for most fish.

Diet

The eastern mudminnow are bottom-feeders and feed on insect larvae, worms, molluscs, and crustaceans.

Behavior

The eastern mudminnows are known to leap from the water while feeding.

Reproduction

Eastern mudminnows have been known to exhibit more complex reproductive behaviors. Males participate in courtship and the fish build nests. Nests can be found in cavities of algae, under loose rocks, and in depressions in the sand. Females guard nests, and males may as well. During courtship, males will quiver their bodies and show their fins.

Conservation

North America

In North America, the eastern mudminnow is usually viewed upon with little concern.

Europe

The eastern mudminnow is viewed as a potentially invasive species in much of Europe. The spread of the fish to six European countries in the 20th century is mostly attribute to popularity in the aquaculture and aquarium trades. The presence of eastern mudminnows in Europe can undermine the conservation efforts of vulnerable species such as the european mudminnow. The spread of the eastern mudminnow in these parts of Europe seems to be slow and primarily human mediated (due to usage as live bait or for aquariums).

References

* Smith, L. C. The Inland Fishes of New York State. New York: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 1985, pp. 242. * {{Taxonbar, from=Q693602 Umbra (fish) Freshwater fish of the United States Fish of the Eastern United States Fish of the Great Lakes Fish described in 1842