Cutlips minnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cutlips minnow |
|
|---|---|
_(12598287284).jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The Cutlips minnow (scientific name: Exoglossum maxillingua) is a cool, medium-sized fish found in North American rivers. It's known for its unique lower jaw, which looks a bit like it has three lips! This special mouth helps it find its favorite foods.
Meet the Cutlips Minnow!
The Cutlips minnow is an olive-green fish, usually about 6 inches long. It's easy to spot because of its amazing lower jaw. This jaw has three parts, and the middle part sticks out like a tiny tongue! This unique feature sets it apart from all other minnows.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the Cutlips minnow in rivers and streams from the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario in Canada, all the way south into Virginia in the United States. It prefers clear, stony pools in running streams, but it doesn't like fast-moving rapids.
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the Cutlips minnow is listed as "threatened." This means its population is at risk there. However, it might never have been very common in Ontario, as this is the northernmost part of its natural home.
What Does It Eat?
The Cutlips minnow's special mouth helps it eat tiny shellfish. It uses its unique jaw to scrape these small creatures off rocks. While shellfish are its main food, it also enjoys eating insect larvae and tiny plant-like organisms called diatoms.
Sometimes, when food is hard to find or there are many other fish around, the Cutlips minnow has a very unusual feeding habit. It might gently pluck out the eyes of other fish, including its own kind, to get extra food.
Family Life
Male Cutlips minnows are great builders! They create nests out of stones on the riverbed. Some of these nests can be quite large, up to 18 inches across.
Spawning, which is when fish lay eggs, happens late in the spring. During this time, the male minnow tries to guide females over his stone nest so they can lay their eggs there.
Fishing Fun
The Cutlips minnow isn't a very popular fish for bait because its colors are a bit dull. However, it's quite easy to catch with a hook. In some areas, people enjoy catching them as a tasty panfish, which is a small fish that fits in a frying pan.
