Pugnose shiner

Description

The pugnose shiner (Notropis anogenus) is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Notropis.It is in the family Cyprinidae which consists of freshwater carps and minnows.Cyprinidae is the largest fish family which consists of about 369 genera and 3,018 species.Its distribution has been decreasing due to the removal of aquatic plants in order to create swimming beaches and boating access in freshwater lakes and is now mostly found in Minnesota,Wisconsin,and Michigan.The pugnose shiner is a type of minnow that can live for up to 3 years and is able to reach sizes between 20-60mm,although it is about 47mm on average.It has a lateral dark stripe on the side of its body that runs from the tip of the caudal fin,through the eye,and to the nose tip.It has a small,terminal mouth angled upwards,giving it the pug-nose appearance.The abdominal region is yellow,and it has a clear-colored tail fin.Each fish has about 34-37 round,silver cycloid scales covering its body which has a fusiform shape to help the pugose shiner swim against the constant stream currents.The pelvic fins are in the abdominal position.Because it is a ray-finned species,the fin rays are used as elements to support the skeletal features.The pugnose shiner has an 8-rayed dorsal fin on top of the dusky-colored back,a feature separating it from the pugnose minnow.This fish is also the only Minnesota Notropis species that has a darkly pigmented peritoneum.