Ozark minnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ozark minnow |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Alburnops nubilus Forbes, 1878 |
The Ozark minnow (scientific name: Notropis nubilus) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called ray-finned fish, which means their fins are supported by bony rays. This minnow is part of the Notropis genus, a large family of fish often found in North America.
Contents
What the Ozark Minnow Looks Like
The Ozark minnow is a small fish. It usually grows to be about 2 to 3 inches long. The longest they get is around 3 inches. Their back and upper sides are dark yellow or olive green. Their lower sides are shiny and silver. They have a stripe that runs along their side, from their tail all the way past their eye. If you see them in the water, you might notice golden spots over this stripe.
Special Features
The edges of their scales are dark. They have a flat snout and big eyes. Like many animals, they are bilaterally symmetrical. This means if you cut them down the middle, both halves would look like mirror images.
Their mouth is at the very front of their head and points slightly upwards. This is called a terminal, oblique mouth. Unlike some other fish, the Ozark minnow does not have dark color on the top or bottom of its mouth.
They have a tail that splits into two parts, like a fork. They also have one fin on their back, called a dorsal fin. These features help them swim very fast and easily through the water. A clear black line runs from their head to their tail, which helps tell them apart from other fish.
Even though they are small, adult Ozark minnows have a very long gut. It is about twice the length of their body! This gut is coiled up neatly inside them.
Males and Females
Male and female Ozark minnows look very much alike. They do not show sexual dimorphism. This means there are no big physical differences between the males and females in their appearance.
Where the Ozark Minnow Lives
Ozark minnows mostly live in creeks or small rivers. They like places with rocky or gravelly bottoms. These waters also need to have a strong, steady flow. You can often find them swimming together in groups, sometimes with other types of minnows.
Preferred Water Conditions
They can be found in deeper pools of water. They also like areas near riffles. Riffles are like small, shallow rapids where the water flows quickly over rocks. Ozark minnows prefer calmer water, so they are often found just below the surface where the current is not too strong. They like freshwater and tend to stay close to the bottom. This is called a benthic biome, meaning they live near the bottom of a body of water.
Geographic Location
Ozark minnows live in the central highlands of the United States. They are mainly found in the Mississippi River system in southern states like Oklahoma and Kansas. They are less common in northern states such as Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. This is partly because of a lot of farming in those northern areas.
Specifically, you can find them in:
- Southeast Minnesota: In the Root, Cedar, and Zumbro rivers.
- Northern and southern parts of Wisconsin.
- Northeast Oklahoma.
- North and central Arkansas.
- Missouri.
- Iowa.
See also
In Spanish: Notropis nubilus para niños
