Finescale dace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Finescale dace |
|
|---|---|
.jpeg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) is a type of small freshwater fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes carps and minnows. This fish is mostly found in the northern parts of Minnesota. You can also find smaller groups in northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Contents
Where the Finescale Dace Lives
The finescale dace lives across southern and northwest Canada. It also lives in parts of Minnesota and areas near the Great Lakes Basin. In Minnesota, you can find them in places like Brule Lake. They also live in waters that drain into Lake Superior in St. Louis and Cook counties.
This fish is sometimes seen in the Great Lakes stream regions of Wisconsin. Even though they prefer northern areas, some groups live in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. You can also find them in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Colorado, and parts of Wyoming. These groups are like "relics" from the Ice Age.
What the Finescale Dace Looks Like
The finescale dace gets its name because it has many tiny scales on its body. It has a big, rounded head. Its body is bronze and black with dark stripes along its sides. Each stripe, called a lateral line, can have more than 80 scales.
These scales are thin and flexible. They cover most of the fish's body. The finescale dace has special scales called ctenoid scales. These scales have tiny comb-like parts on them. The fish also has a lateral line system. This system helps it sense movement in the water and know where it is.
The fish usually has 5-4 main row teeth, but sometimes it can have 4-4, 4-5, or 5-5 teeth. It has two sets of paired fins. The pectoral fins are on the sides of its body. The pelvic fins are underneath its body, closer to its head. Finescale dace are usually about 60 to 70 millimeters (about 2.4 to 2.8 inches) long. This is roughly the length of an average person's thumb.
What the Finescale Dace Eats and Where It Lives
This fish prefers cool, slightly acidic waters in northern regions. You can often find them in calm, slow-moving creeks. They also like cool, boggy ponds. Beaver ponds are great homes for them. They hide safely among sunken logs and fallen branches.
Finescale dace eat tiny invertebrates. This includes small insects like water beetles. Their diet also includes different types of crustaceans and plankton. They also eat algae. In northern Minnesota, they sometimes eat fingernail clams.
Why Finescale Dace Are Important to Humans
Many animals hunt finescale dace. These include diving beetles, mink, brook trout, and kingfishers. However, humans do not eat them. Instead, finescale dace are often sold as bait in many parts of Minnesota and Canada. They are also sometimes kept as pets in home aquariums.
Conservation Status
People are not worried about the number of finescale dace. They are strong and can adapt well. This makes them good for the bait industry in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Finescale dace begin to breed in April and finish in June. This happens when the water temperature in streams reaches at least 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). During breeding season, the male fish become brightly colored. This attracts the more muted-colored females.
The fish lay their eggs in large dips in the sandy stream bottom. These spots are usually hidden under waterlogged wood and brush. The eggs sink to the bottom and are left alone by both parents. The actual breeding process is very quick, lasting only fifteen to thirty seconds.
The female fish continues to lay eggs for several more days. This can make her very tired. She might lay hundreds more eggs during the spawning season. The number of eggs depends on her size and how healthy she is. The eggs stay in the dips and will hatch in about four days if they are not eaten by predators.
The finescale dace can also reproduce with another fish called the northern redbelly dace (Chrosomus eos). However, their offspring are always female hybrids.
It is helpful for female finescale dace to grow larger and live longer than males. This allows them to reproduce for a longer time and lay more healthy eggs. In Minnesota, the largest female ever recorded was 85 millimeters (about 3.3 inches) long. She was about six years old. The largest male recorded in a similar area was 58 millimeters (about 2.3 inches) long and about five years old. However, most finescale dace, both male and female, live for three or four years. They are typically about 60 to 70 millimeters long.
Name Meaning
The species name Neogaeus comes from an ancient Greek word. It means "new world."
