Loach minnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loach minnow |
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Tiaroga cobitis Girard, 1856 |
The loach minnow (Rhinichthys cobitis) is a type of small freshwater fish. It belongs to the carp family. You can find it in streams and small rivers. These fish live in the Gila River and San Pedro River areas. This includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Sonora. Sadly, it is now gone from Mexico.
Contents
What the Loach Minnow Looks Like
The loach minnow has a long, thin body. It usually grows to about 65 millimeters (2.5 inches) long. Its body is olive-colored. It has many darker spots and blotches. You might see dirty-white spots near its fins. These spots are before and after the top fin. They are also on the upper and lower parts of the tail fin base.
When male loach minnows are ready to breed, they get bright red-orange marks. These marks appear on their fins, body, and lower head. Female loach minnows turn yellow on their fins and lower body during this time.
You can tell a loach minnow apart from a similar fish called the speckled dace. Loach minnows have those whitish spots. These spots are at the start and end of their dorsal (top) fin. They are also on the top and bottom of their tail fin base.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Loach minnows do not live very long. How long they live depends on their environment. It also depends on the specific group of fish. They usually lay their eggs from late winter to early summer.
They place their eggs on the bottom of flat rocks. A single rock can hold from 5 to over 250 eggs. On average, there are about 52 to 63 eggs per rock. A female loach minnow can produce between 150 and 1200 mature eggs.
Where Loach Minnows Live and What They Eat
Loach minnows live in fast-moving, rocky parts of rivers. They like water that flows at a moderate to fast speed. They also prefer areas with gravel on the bottom.
These fish are "opportunistic benthic insectivores." This means they eat insects they find on the riverbed. They search for insect larvae that live in the riffles. Their diet includes mayfly larvae, black flies, and midge larvae.
Protecting the Loach Minnow
The loach minnow was listed as a threatened species in 1986. This means its numbers are low and it needs protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed this protection. They also set aside special "critical habitat" areas. These are places important for the loach minnow's survival. These areas were officially protected in 1994.
Loach minnows face threats from things like damming rivers. Dams can change how the water flows. They can also block fish from moving freely. Invasive species are also a problem. These are new types of animals that can harm the loach minnow. Changes to their habitat also put them in danger.
See also
In Spanish: Carpita locha para niños
