Kingdom Animalia Family Cyprinidae Genus Pimephales Order Cypriniformes | Class Actinopterygii Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
Similar Pimephales, Mimic shiner, Phenacobius mirabilis, Phenacobius, Bluntnose minnow | ||
Pimephales vigilax, also known as the bullhead minnow, is a species of freshwater demersal fish, native to the Southern United States.
Contents
History
The bullhead minnow was first described by Spencer Baird and Charles Girard in 1853.
Characteristics
The bullhead minnow is cylindrical and small in size, ranging from 43 to 102 mm in length and the average length being 50 mm. The males of the species are dark in color, brown, olive, or tan, with two light colored vertical lines down their side, while the females are plain in comparison. The snout is rounded, and no teeth are present. The tail is forked with rounded ends, the single dorsal fin contains eight rays and no spine, the anal fin contains seven rays with no spine, pelvic fins are abdominal and no adipose fin is present.
Distribution
The bullhead minnow is mainly located in the Southern United States, in the Gulf Coast of the United States and Mississippi River Basin. It can be found in less majority throughout the entire Mississippi River, as well as connected brooks, streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are found more often in waters that typically have little to no movement, such as in river pools. It is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee.
Biology
The spawning season extends from the middle of May through early September. They reproduce in an egg-clustering fashion. For a mating location, the males build a nest, normally protected by rocks, tree roots or limbs, or boards, The female lays eggs in the nest, and the male guards the eggs throughout spawning. There is currently no known age of maturation for this fish. They live an average of three to five years. They are a bottom-living species, and feed on organisms found in the mud covering the ground.
Human Uses
This minnow is commonly used in aquatic taxology. They are also sold as bait fish and fed to aquarium-living fish.