Bullhead minnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bullhead minnow |
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The bullhead minnow (Pimephales vigilax) is a small freshwater fish. It lives mostly near the bottom of rivers and lakes. You can find it in the southern United States.
Contents
Discovering the Bullhead Minnow
Scientists Spencer Baird and Charles Girard first described this fish. They wrote about it in 1853.
What Does a Bullhead Minnow Look Like?
This fish is small and shaped like a cylinder. It usually grows to about 5.7 centimeters (2.2 inches) long. The longest ones can be 9.2 centimeters (3.6 inches).
Male vs. Female Minnows
Male bullhead minnows are often darker. They can be brown, olive, or tan. They also have two light lines down their sides. Female minnows are usually plainer in color.
Body Features
The bullhead minnow has a rounded snout. It does not have any teeth. Its tail is forked, with rounded ends. It has one dorsal fin on its back. This fin has eight soft rays and no spine. The fin underneath, called the anal fin, has seven rays. It also has no spine. The pelvic fins are on its belly. This fish does not have an adipose fin.
Where Do Bullhead Minnows Live?
Bullhead minnows are mainly found in the southern United States. They live along the Gulf Coast of the United States. They are also common in the Mississippi River Basin.
Their Habitat
You can find them throughout the entire Mississippi River. They also live in connected brooks, streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers. They prefer waters that move slowly or not at all. This includes quiet river pools.
Introduced Locations
This fish has been moved to new areas by people. It was likely carried by anglers as bait fish. For example, it is now in the Osage River and Kansas River systems in Kansas. It is also in the Missouri in Nebraska. You can find it in the Rio Grande in New Mexico. It was also introduced to Lake St Marys in Ohio.
Other places include the James drainage in South Dakota. It is also in the Red River, Canadian River, and Rio Grande in Texas. It might also be in the upper Fox River and Menomonee River in Wisconsin.
Accidental Introductions
Bullhead minnows were also accidentally brought to Utah. This happened in the 1950s. They were likely mixed in with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) imported from Texas. They now live in the Sevier River and Lake Utah areas.
Life of a Bullhead Minnow
Bullhead minnows live on the bottom of the water. They eat small organisms found in the mud. They usually live for about three to five years.
Spawning and Eggs
Their spawning season is from mid-May to early September. They lay their eggs in clusters. The male minnow builds a nest for the eggs. These nests are often protected by rocks, tree roots, or boards. The female lays her eggs in this nest. The male then guards the eggs until they hatch.
In Spanish: Pimephales vigilax para niños
