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Pimephales promelas Rafinesque, 1820

Fathead minnow
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Pimephales promelas
Male picture by Divino, J.N.


United States (contiguous states) country information

Common names: Black-head minnow, Fathead minnow, Rosey reds
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: bait: yes;
Comments: Introduced through bait-bucket releases in Mobile Bay drainage in Alabama, Colorado River drainage in Arizona and New Mexico, and elsewhere. Bred in Arkansas for bait (Ref. 26870). Also Ref. 10294.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.nmfs.gov
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Nomi Comuni | Sinonimi | Catalog of Fishes(Genere, Specie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Cypriniformes (Carps) > Leuciscidae (Minnows) > Pogonichthyinae
Etymology: Pimephales: Greek, pimeles, -es = fat + Greek, phales = whale; if the root is Greek, phales, -etos = penis (Ref. 45335);  promelas: From the words pro, meaning forward; and melas, black (referring to the black head of nuptial males) (Ref. 10294).
  More on author: Rafinesque.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecologia

; acqua dolce demersale.   Subtropical; 0°C - 33°C (Ref. 35682); 61°N - 29°N

Distribuzione Stati | Aree FAO | Ecosystems | Presenze | Point map | Introduzioni | Faunafri

North and Central America: Over much of North America from Quebec to Northwest Territories and British Columbia in Canada and south to Alabama, Texas in USA, and Mexico. Widely introduced, including in Colorado River drainage in Arizona and New Mexico, USA. Not present on Atlantic and Gulf slopes between Potomac River in Virginia and Trinity River in Texas. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Size / Peso / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.1 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 10294); common length : 7.3 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 12193); Età massima riportata: 5 anni (Ref. 58435)

Short description Chiavi di identificazione | Morfologia | Morfometria

Spine dorsali (totale) : 0; Raggi dorsali molli (totale) : 8; Spine anali: 0; Raggi anali molli: 7. The only species of genus introduced to Europe which differs from other cyprinid species in Europe by the following characters: prominent pad of spongy tissue on nape in males; dorsal fin origin about above pelvic fin origin; anal fin with 7½ branched rays; second simple dorsal ray spinous, about 50% length of the third one; lateral line incomplete, usually not reaching dorsal origin; weak midlateral stripe; 41-54 + 2 scales in midlateral row; and mouth terminal (Ref. 59043).

Biologia     Glossario (es. epibenthic)

Inhabits muddy pools of headwaters, creeks, small rivers, and ponds (Ref. 5723, 86798). Also found in lakes (Ref. 10294). Can tolerate conditions (e.g., turbid, hot, poorly oxygenated, intermittent streams) unsuitable for most fishes (Ref. 5723, 86798). Feeds on detritus and algae (Ref. 10294). Spawns in still-water habitats along shores (Ref. 59043). Introductions consequently caused the spread of the enteric red-mouth disease throughout northern Europe which infected wild and cultured trouts and eels (Ref. 1739). Maintained a relatively high metabolic rate and level of activity under hypoxic conditions (Ref. 77050). Individuals that survived the hypoxic conditions during winter had rapid growth rates after ice-off (Ref. 77048).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Riproduzione | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larve

"Males defend territories and eggs, and clean plants, stone or other materials by rubbing them with the spongy nape pad and dorsal fin, which contain mucus-secreting cells and taste buds. The mucus may have fungicidal properties" (Ref. 59043).

Main reference Upload your references | Bibliografia | Coordinatore | Collaboratori

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 2011. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 663p. (Ref. 86798)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 02 July 2018

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Potential pest




Human uses

Pesca: commerciale; Acquario: Commerciale; esca: usually
FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource |

Informazioni ulteriori

Trophic ecology
Prede
Diet compositions
Food consumptions
Food rations
Predatori
Ecology
Ecologia
Home ranges
Population dynamics
Growths
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversions
Recruitments
Abundances
Life cycle
Riproduzione
Maturities
Fecundities
Spawnings
Spawning aggregations
Egg(s)
Egg developments
Larve
Dinamica popolazioni larvali
Distribution
Stati
Aree FAO
Ecosystems
Presenze
Introduzioni
BRUVS - Videos
Anatomy
Gill areas
Cervelli
Otoliths
Physiology
Body compositions
Nutrients
Oxygen consumptions
Swimming type
Swimming speeds
Visual pigment(s)
Suoni dei Pesci
Diseases / Parasites
Toxicities (LC50s)
Genetics
Genetica
Electrophoreses
Heritabilities
Human related
Aquaculture systems
Profili di acquacoltura
Varietà
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.
Outreach
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References
Bibliografia

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5625   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00851 (0.00616 - 0.01175), b=3.07 (2.98 - 3.16), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  2.4   ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Resilienza (Ref. 120179):  Alto, tempo minimo di raddoppiamento della popolazione meno di 15 mesi (tmax=2).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Low vulnerability (17 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Unknown.