Lake minnow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake minnow
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Cyprinus percnurus Pallas, 1814 Cyprinus perenurus Pallas, 1814 Eupallasella percnurus (Pallas, 1814) Eupallasella perenurus (Pallas, 1814) Leucaspius fischeri Sabanyeev, 1871 Morocco percnurus (Pallas, 1814) Moroco percnurus sachalinensis (Berg, 1907) Phoxinus altus Warpachowski, 1887 Phoxinus crucifer Gratzianov, 1907 Phoxinus czekanowskii posnaniensis Berg, 1932 Phoxinus dybowskii Lorec & Wolski, 1910 Phoxinus jelskii Dybowski, 1869 Phoxinus laevis var. punctatus Benecke, 1881 Phoxinus percnurus (Pallas, 1814) Phoxinus percnurus dauricus Dybowski, 1877 Phoxinus percnurus gdaniensis Berg, 1932 Phoxinus percnurus mantschuricus Berg, 1907 Phoxinus percnurus occidentalis Kaj, 1953 Phoxinus percnurus posnaniensis Berg, 1932 Phoxinus percnurus sachalinensis Berg, 1907 Phoxinus percnurus sarykul Ruzskii, 1926 Phoxinus perenurus (Pallas, 1814) Phoxinus perenurus dauricus Dybowski, 1877 Phoxinus perenurus mantschuricus Berg, 1907 Phoxinus sabanejewi Warpachowski, 1887 Phoxinus stagnalis Warpachowski, 1886 Phoxinus variabilis Warpachowski, 1887

The lake minnow or swamp minnow (Rhynchocypris percnurus) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to the cyprinid family, which includes carps and minnows. This fish lives in lakes, slow-moving rivers, and swamps across parts of Europe and Asia.

Lake minnows are known for being quite small. They usually grow up to about 18.5 centimeters (around 7 inches) long. They are an important part of the food chain in their habitats.

What is a Lake Minnow?

The lake minnow is a type of minnow. Minnows are generally small, silvery fish. They often live in groups called schools. This helps them stay safe from bigger fish and birds that might want to eat them. Lake minnows are also sometimes called swamp minnows. This name comes from the kinds of places they like to live.

Where Does the Lake Minnow Live?

The lake minnow has a very wide range, but its populations are spread out. This means you won't find them everywhere in between. They live in both Europe and Asia.

European Homes

In Europe, you can find lake minnows in countries like Belarus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. They prefer cooler waters in these regions.

Asian Homes

Across Asia, their habitat stretches into northern China, Japan, Korea, and Siberia. This shows how adaptable these small fish are to different environments. They can live in many types of freshwater bodies.

What Does the Lake Minnow Look Like?

Lake minnows are typically slender fish. They have a streamlined body shape. This helps them swim quickly through the water. Their scales are usually small. Their color can vary a bit depending on their habitat. They often have a brownish or olive-green back. Their sides might be silvery, and their belly is lighter. They have fins that help them balance and move.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Like most fish, lake minnows start their lives as eggs. The female fish lays many tiny eggs. These eggs are usually laid in shallow, calm waters. They might attach to plants or rocks. After a short time, the eggs hatch into tiny fish called fry.

The fry are very small and vulnerable. They feed on tiny organisms in the water. As they grow, they develop into juvenile fish. They then become adults. Adult lake minnows are ready to reproduce themselves. This cycle continues, helping new generations of minnows thrive.

Conservation Status

The lake minnow is currently listed as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN. This means that, for now, their populations are stable. They are not considered to be at high risk of extinction. However, it's always important to protect freshwater habitats. This helps ensure that all fish species, including the lake minnow, can continue to live and thrive. Protecting their homes means keeping rivers, lakes, and swamps clean and healthy.

See also

In Spanish: Rhynchocypris percnurus para niños