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Little Colorado spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata) — Cyprinidae

Little Colorado spinedace

Lepidomeda vittata
Family: Cyprinidae
VU · Vulnerable

The Little Colorado spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Little Colorado spinedace is a small minnow (Leuciscidae) from fresh water of the arid southwestern United States. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a slender, silvery body with stiffened, spine-like leading dorsal rays. As a schooling fish it lives in clear, flowing streams and rivers of the Little Colorado basin in Arizona and eats small insects, larvae and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Little Colorado spinedace?

The Little Colorado spinedace has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Little Colorado spinedace live?

The Little Colorado spinedace lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Little Colorado spinedace get?

The Little Colorado spinedace grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Little Colorado spinedace dangerous to humans?

No, the Little Colorado spinedace is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Little Colorado-stekelelritsje sourced
English name
Little Colorado spinedace sourced
Scientific name
Lepidomeda vittata
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Little Colorado spinedace verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Lepidomeda

More from the family Cyprinidae

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