FAMILY CYPRINIDAE 153 



of the Upper Mississippi but uncommon in the Des Moines River. 

 Jordan, Evermann, and Clark (1930) mentioned it from Rainy River 

 as Rhinichthys lunatus (Cope) . Greene (1935) reported it as common 

 throughout Wisconsin. According to Hubbs and Cooper (1936) this 

 minnow scatters its eggs on gravel and sand bottoms in creeks. 



GREAT LAKES LONGNOSE DACE (Black Minnow) 

 Rhinichthys cataractae cataractae (Valenciennes) 



The body of the Great Lakes longnose dace (Figure 25B) is elongate 

 and cylindrical. The snout projects considerably beyond the mouth. 

 Barbels are present on the maxillaries. This dace is rather olivaceous in 

 color, with dark splotches. During the spring the males have consider- 

 able red on head, sides, and fins. The dorsal fin has 8 rays. The scales 

 are 14-65-8. The teeth are 2, 4 — 4. 2. This species reaches a length of 

 5 inches. 



This species ranges from coast to coast in southern Canada and 

 southward to North Carolina. Iowa, Mexico, and Oregon. It is rather 

 common in small streams and lakes in northern and eastern Minnesota. 

 Greene (1935) reported it from the St. Croix River, the St. Louis 

 River, and numerous areas in northern Wisconsin. Not much is known 

 about the spawning habits, 



GENUS Semotilus Rafinesque 



NORTHERN CREEK CHUB (Northern Horned Dace) 

 Semotilus atromaculatus atroTnaculatus (Mitchill) 



The northern creek chub (Figure 25F) is one of the larger minnows; 

 it reaches a length of 12 inches. It is characterized by a small barbel a 

 little above the end of each maxillary and a black spot at the anterior 

 base of the dorsal fin. It is dusky silver in color. The teeth are 2, 5 — 4, 2. 

 The scales in the lateral line vary from 50 to 60. 



The creek chub ranges from Montana to the Gaspe Peninsula and 

 southward to the Gulf States. Greene (1935) reported it as common in 

 all parts of Wisconsin. It has a wide distribution over Minnesota, prin- 

 cipally in the smaller streams of central and southern Minnesota. In 

 many localities the drain upon it as a bait minnow has nearly ended in 

 extirpation. The young closely resemble several other black-sided 

 minnows, but the adult is easily distinguished from others by its size 

 and, during the spring at least, by the coarse tubercles present on the 

 head. 



This species prefers small rivers and large creeks but is occasionally 

 found in lakes. It is a nesting fish. On clean gravel the male makes a nest 

 in which more than one female deposits eggs, and the male then covers 

 the eggs with small stones. 



