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 of the families Cyprinidae and

Leuciscidae 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. Smaller fish in the subfamily Leusciscidae 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 geog ...

(''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 ''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 ...

'' 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. 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 lak ...

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, a species in the genus '' Pararhinichthys'' *

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

'' * 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 Nort ...

'' * Short levered minnow, a species of the genus '' Minnellinus'' * Pikeminnows, 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, a species in the genus '' Opsopoeodus'' *

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 ...

, a species in the genus ''

Notropis ''Notropis'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are known commonly as eastern shiners.''N ...

'' * Longjaw minnow, a species in the genus '' Ericymba'' * Silvery minnows, fishes in the genus '' Hybognathus'' * 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 ...

'' * Vietnamese cardinal minnow, a species in the genus '' Tanichthys'' *

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 ...

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

'' * in Southeast Asia, the danionins * the Drakensberg minnow ('' Labeobarbus aspius'') 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 Dubouze ...

, 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 ...

* 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 p ...

, (''

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 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