Home · Cyprinidae · Pugnose minnow
Pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) — Cyprinidae

Pugnose minnow

Opsopoeodus emiliae
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.6 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The pugnose minnow is a small cyprinid from the eastern and central United States. The species grows to about 6.5 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a conspicuously small, upward-slanting mouth (pugnose) and a dark lateral stripe. It inhabits clear to turbid, vegetated lakes, swamps, oxbows and slow-flowing streams. As a small omnivore it feeds on small zooplankton, insect larvae, algae and detritus. It is a peaceful schooling fish. Owing to its small size it is prey for larger fishes and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pugnose minnow?

The Pugnose minnow has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Pugnose minnow live?

The Pugnose minnow lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Pugnose minnow get?

The Pugnose minnow grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Pugnose minnow dangerous to humans?

No, the Pugnose minnow is harmless to humans.

Is the Pugnose minnow edible?

The Pugnose minnow is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stompneus-elrits sourced
English name
Pugnose minnow verified
Scientific name
Opsopoeodus emiliae
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Pugnose minnow verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.6 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

More from the family Cyprinidae

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