Robust redhorse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robust redhorse |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The robust redhorse (its scientific name is Moxostoma robustum) is a special type of fish. It's called a redhorse because of its reddish fins. This fish lives in clean, fresh water in rivers and streams. You can find it in the eastern parts of the United States. Long ago, people used to call it the 'smallfin redhorse'.
Discovering the Robust Redhorse
Scientists like to give every living thing a special name. This helps them keep track of different species. A naturalist named Edward Drinker Cope first described the robust redhorse in 1870. He found a fish weighing about 2.7 kilograms (6 pounds) in the Yadkin River in North Carolina. He gave it the scientific name Ptychostomus robustus.
Sadly, the first fish specimen he studied was lost. By the late 1800s, people stopped talking about the robust redhorse. Many thought this fish had completely disappeared. It was believed to be extinct, meaning it no longer existed.
But then, something exciting happened! In the 1980s, some unknown fish were found in the Savannah River and Pee Dee River. Scientists weren't sure what they were. Then, in August 1991, biologists from Georgia made a big discovery. They found five of these fish in the Oconee River. They realized these were the lost robust redhorse! This was a huge moment, as it meant the fish was not extinct after all.
What Does a Robust Redhorse Look Like?
The robust redhorse is a large fish. It can live for a long time compared to other fish in its family. Some robust redhorse fish can weigh up to 7.7 kilograms (17 pounds). They can also live for as long as 27 years!
Most of these fish are about 64 centimeters (25 inches) long. They usually weigh around 4.1 kilograms (9 pounds). The robust redhorse has a thick body, which is why it's called "robust." Its fins are a pretty rose color. It also has a thick, fleshy lower lip.
Where Do Robust Redhorse Live?
You can find the robust redhorse in the eastern United States. They live in rivers from the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. Their home range goes south to the Oconee River system in Georgia. This river system is part of the larger Altamaha River drainage.
These fish like to live in parts of rivers that are not too fast. They can be found in rocky areas or places with soft mud. They also live in larger bodies of water like reservoirs. These are places where water is stored, often behind a dam.
