Orthodon microlepidotus (Ayres, 1854)
Sacramento blackfish

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Laviniinae
Max. size:  55 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 5 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish
Distribution:  North America: Sacramento-San Joaquin, Pajaro and Salinas River drainages; Clear Lake in California, USA; also Russian River, where possibly introduced; introduced to Santa Ana River in California and Humboldt River system in Nevada.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11. Dorsal fin with 9-11 rays; dorsal-fin origin in front of pelvic-fin origin; 90-105 scales on lateral line; wide head, flat above; slightly upturned mouth; slender, compressed body; long narrow caudal peduncle; pharyngeal teeth 0,6-6,0 or 0,6-5,0; light to dark gray above, often olive sheen; silver side (Ref. 86798).
Biology:  Occurs in lakes, backwaters and sluggish pools of small to large rivers. Usually found in warm turbid water (Ref. 86798).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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