Finescale dace

Description

The finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is native to the northern portions of Minnesota. The finescale dace occupies the regions ranging across the southern and northwest parts of Canada to areas of Minnesota, and more southward to the areas that lie near the Great Lakes Basin. The populations have been shown to inhabit areas in Minnesota including Brule Lake, as well as those bodies of water occupying the Lake Superior drainage areas of St. Louis and Cook counties. This species has also been found to live in the Great Lakes drainage stream regions of Wisconsin (although rarely seen in southern parts of Wisconsin). Although more northernly distributed, they have been seen to exist as Glacial relict populations in the Sand Hills of Nebraska, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Colorado, and parts of Wyoming. Finescale dace gets its name from the fine scales running along its body The species is characterized by its large, blunt head, and dark lateral bands running parallel to the length of its bronze and black body. On each lateral line there may be more than 80 scales. These scales are classified as leptoid scales. The leptoid scales are thin and flexible and cover the extent of the body. Leptoid scales are divided in two groups of specificity. The finescale dace has what are called ctenoid scales, called this because of the cteni that run along the posterior area of the fish. A lateral line system exists on the fish and allows it to orient itself in moving water. Main row teeth are distributed 5-4 usually, but have been seen as 4-4, 4-5, and 5-5 as well. The fish has paired fins lying on the pectoral and pelvic fins. The pectoral fins lie on the sides of the body. The pelvic fins are placed in the thoracic position. They range in size from 60 to 70 millimeters (2.4 to 2.8 in) long, about the length of an average person's thumb. This fish is most often found in the cool, acidic waters of the north. More specifically, they are found in the calm waters of slow-moving creeks and in cool, boggy ponds. Beaver ponds provide an excellent habitat, as they are found hidden in the safety among sunken logs and downed brush. They prey on tiny invertebrates including small insects such water beetles. Their diet also includes a variety of crustaceans, plankton, algae, and in the Northern parts of Minnesota, fingernail clams.