Suckermouth minnows facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Suckermouth minnows |
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| Suckermouth minnow (Phenacobius mirabilis) | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Subfamily: | Leuciscinae |
| Genus: | Phenacobius Cope, 1867 |
| Type species | |
| Phenacobius teretulus Cope, 1867
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| Synonyms | |
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Sarcidium Cope, 1871 |
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Phenacobius, also known as suckermouth minnows, is a group of fish found only in the United States. These fish belong to the cyprinid family. Long ago, you wouldn't find suckermouth minnows as far east as Ohio. But now, they live all over the Midwest and in southern states like Texas, New Mexico, and Alabama.
How did they spread? When people cleared forests and prairies to create farmland, new streams and rivers formed. These new waterways helped the minnows move eastward. Before these changes, suckermouth minnows likely never crossed the Mississippi River. These fish usually live for about 3 to 5 years. However, it's hard to know for sure because many are eaten by other animals. About half of them survive. There are currently five known types, or species, of suckermouth minnows. The name "phenacobius" means "deceptive life." This might be because they look like they only eat plants, but they actually eat insects too!
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Types of Suckermouth Minnows
There are five main types of suckermouth minnows:
- Phenacobius catostomus D. S. Jordan, 1877 (Riffle minnow)
- Phenacobius crassilabrum W. L. Minckley & James Edward Craddock|Craddock, 1962 (Fatlips minnow)
- Phenacobius mirabilis (Girard, 1856) (Suckermouth minnow)
- Phenacobius teretulus Cope, 1867 (Kanawha minnow)
- Phenacobius uranops Cope, 1867 (Stargazing minnow)
What Do Suckermouth Minnows Look Like?
Suckermouth minnows have a special mouth that is just below the tip of their snout. It looks a bit like a small suction cup, which is how they got their name!
These minnows have five fins that help them swim:
- The dorsal fin is on top of their body.
- The anal fin is on the bottom, near their tail.
- The pelvic fin is just in front of the anal fin.
- The pectoral fin is on both sides of their body.
- The caudal fin is their tail.
Suckermouth minnows have a long, thin black line along their side. This line ends at a dark spot near the base of their tail. Just above this black line, there's a thin gold line. It runs the same length and also ends near the dark spot.
These fish use a trick called countershading to hide. Their top side is a darker gray, and their belly is light cream or white. This helps them blend in with the water from above and below. The sides of the minnow, around the gold and black lines, are silvery or light brown.
How Big Do They Get?
Like other fish in the Cyprinidae family, suckermouth minnows are usually 2 to 4 inches long. Some can even grow up to 5 inches!
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Suckermouth minnows gather in groups to lay eggs in late spring or early summer. The female minnow lays between 200 and 500 eggs. After the eggs are laid, the parents do not care for them. The water temperature during this time is usually between 14 and 25 degrees Celsius.
They mate with many different males and females. This helps make sure that many eggs are fertilized. Female suckermouths lay small groups of eggs over time. This might help more of the young fish survive.
What Do Suckermouth Minnows Eat?
Suckermouth minnows eat both meat and plants. They are primarily carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. Their diet includes eggs, other small fish (piscivore), and insects. They also eat plants like algae.
Why Are They Important?
Suckermouth minnows are a food source for larger fish. Green sunfish, yellow perch, and brown trout all eat them. Because of this, fishermen often use suckermouth minnows as bait.
Images for kids
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Suckermouth minnow (Phenacobius mirabilis)
