Central mudminnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central mudminnow |
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The central mudminnow (Umbra limi) is a small fish. It belongs to the family Umbridae. You can find this fish in central and eastern North America. It lives in waters that are rich in plants and food. This fish can handle very low oxygen levels in the water. Because of this, it is often one of the only fish species found in places where other fish might die. This happens during times of "winter kill" or "summer kill" when oxygen levels drop too low.
What Does It Look Like?
The central mudminnow lives in slow-moving water. This includes ponds, lakes, and streams. It is found across central North America. These fish are usually about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long.
They can burrow tail-first into the mud. This helps them survive in places with low oxygen. Their color helps them blend in. They are brownish on top with mottled sides. Their belly is usually pale.
Many animals eat central mudminnows. These include other fish like grass pickerel and northern pike. Birds, foxes, and snakes also hunt them when they are out of water. Mudminnows eat many small creatures. They feed on tiny animals in the water (zooplankton). They also eat insects and other small creatures living on the bottom or on plants.
This mudminnow has a special way to breathe. It uses a modified gas bladder. This lets it breathe air bubbles trapped under the ice in winter. This helps them stay active and find food even when it's cold.
Where Does It Live?
The central mudminnow (Umbra limi) is found in many freshwater places. These include lakes, streams, and wetlands. They often live near the shore where there is lots of cover. You can find them in central North America. This area is west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Their range includes the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. They also live in the Hudson Bay and Mississippi River basins. This stretches from Quebec to Manitoba. It goes south to Ohio, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Central mudminnows have also been moved to rivers in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Their homes, like marshy lands and rivers, are often affected by human activity. This might be causing their numbers to go down.
How Does It Live?
The central mudminnow is a carnivore. This means it eats other animals. It usually feeds on the bottom of freshwater habitats. They prefer to eat small crustaceans called amphipods. They also like beetles (coleopterans) and dragonflies (anisopterans). They tend to avoid tiny floating animals called zooplankton.
This fish likes water with low oxygen levels. It also prefers warmer temperatures and slow-moving water. It can live in low-oxygen conditions because it can breathe air. These fish are known to feed even in very cold water, around 1 degree Celsius.
As mentioned, other animals eat mudminnows. These include grass pickerel, sunfishes, and northern pike. Catfishes also prey on them. Birds, foxes, and snakes will eat them if they are caught out of the water.
The mudminnow can bury itself in mud or sand. This helps it hide from predators. They also like to be with other mudminnows. This behavior is called shoaling. Being in a group helps them stay safer from danger.
Life Cycle
Central mudminnows usually lay their eggs in mid-April. This happens when the water temperature reaches about 13 degrees Celsius. Warmer water helps them start spawning. They can lay up to 2,500 eggs in one season. This usually happens in shallow water.
The average age for a central mudminnow is three years. However, some can live to be five or six years old. Female mudminnows are typically larger than males when they are around two years old. The eggs usually hatch in about six days. After hatching, the young fish enter the larval stage.
