Mississippi silvery minnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mississippi silvery minnow |
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The Mississippi silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) is a type of fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is one of many fish species found in Tennessee. Compared to other minnows, the Mississippi silvery minnow is quite large. These fish prefer quiet waters with very little or no current. You can find them mostly in rivers like the Little Miami, Great Miami, and Ohio rivers, and the smaller streams that flow into them. While their numbers are low in Ohio, overall, scientists are not too worried about this minnow disappearing. Not a lot of research has been done on them yet.
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Where They Live: Distribution
The Mississippi silvery minnow is originally from North America. These fish have been found living in the low-lying areas around the Mississippi River. This area stretches from Minnesota all the way down to Ohio. They also live in the main Mississippi River itself, reaching down to the Gulf of Mexico. It is very common to find these fish in smaller streams just before the stream joins a larger river. Other states where the Mississippi silvery minnow has been seen include Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, and New Mexico.
What They Look Like: Physical Description
The Mississippi silvery minnow gets its name from how it looks. Most of this fish is covered in shiny, silver scales that reflect light. It also has a dark stripe running down the center of its back. An average minnow is about 12 to 13 centimeters long.
The Mississippi silvery minnow has a lateral line on each side of its body. This line helps them feel vibrations in the water. They have a pair of pectoral fins near their head and a pair of small pelvic fins further back. Like many other minnows, they have an anal fin, a dorsal fin, and a strong caudal fin (tail fin). The dorsal fin is located right in the middle of their back, between their head and tail. All their fins are clear and have no special markings. The Mississippi silvery minnow looks very similar to the Cypress minnow.
Their Home and Food: Habitat and Diet
The Mississippi silvery minnow mostly lives in freshwater river basins and shallow ponds or streams. These shallow streams usually have a gentle slope. These fish are known as benthopelagic feeders. This means they feed both on the bottom of the water and in the open water.
The Mississippi silvery minnow eats in large groups, called schools, with other silvery minnows. They mainly feed on benthos. Benthos are the plants and animals found on the bottom or in the mud of a body of water. They also eat small swimming organisms.
How They Reproduce: Reproduction
Female Mississippi silvery minnows lay their eggs on the soft mud at the bottom of the water. The baby fish will hatch in early summer. The exact dates can change depending on where they live. For example, in Wisconsin, they hatch in late April. The eggs are usually about 0.8 millimeters wide. Neither the male nor the female Mississippi silvery minnow takes care of their young. These minnows have also never been seen defending any specific area or territory.
See also
In Spanish: Hybognathus nuchalis para niños
