Western Blacknose Dace | |
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Fish caught in Mississauga, Ontario. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Subfamily: | Leuciscinae |
Clade: | Pogonichthyinae |
Genus: | Rhinichthys |
Species: | R. obtusus
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Binomial name | |
Rhinichthys obtusus | |
Synonyms | |
Rhinichthys meleagris Agassiz, 1854 |
Western blacknose dace (Rhinichthys obtusus) is a common species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae (minnow or carp)[3] and the genus Rhinichthys. Western blacknose dace have tan to dark brown backs, lighter sides, and cream colored undersides.[4] Dark blotches are sporadically scattered across their sides and backs.[4] A distinctive dark colored mid-lateral stripe from the tip of the snout to the caudal peduncle is present.[4] The snout is relatively long and they have a slightly sub-terminal mouth.[5] The stripe is dark brown in females and is a rusty pink color in males during spawning season.[6] The lateral stripe is more pronounced and the caudal spot is present in juveniles.[7] Similar to other species of dace the western blacknose dace give the illusion of having no scales but in actuality the scales are so small they are hard to see.[4] Western blacknose dace are typically 2–3 inches long but can grow to as long as 4 inches.[4] They have a forked tail, single dorsal fin with 8 rays and no spines, a pelvic fin on the abdominal, no adipose fin, and an anal fin with 7 rays and no spines.[7]