FAMILY CYPRINIDAE 167 



GENUS Fmiephales (Rafinesque) 



FATHEAD MINNOW (Blackhead Minnow) 

 Pime'phales promelas promelas (Rafinesque) 



The fathead minnow (Figure 26E) is heavy-bodied and varies in 

 color from ohvaceous to black. The dorsal fin has a horizontal black bar 

 in adults. There are 9 dorsal rays; the anterior one is thickened. The 

 anal fin has 7 rays. The scales are 7, 43-47, 6. The pharyngeal teeth are 

 4 — 4. This species reaches a length of 2 1/2 inches. 



The northern fathead minnow ranges from southern Canada south- 

 ward to Colorado, Tennessee, and Maine. This species is common 

 everywhere in Minnesota in both lakes and streams. It is abundant in 

 the northern part of the state, especially in mud-bottom streams and 

 lakes. Greene (1935) reported it from all drainage systems in Wiscon- 

 sin and as most abundant in the southwestern portion of the state. 



The eggs are laid under stones or boards and are guarded by the male, 

 which strokes them with a pad developed on its back. 



GENUS Ceratichthys Forbes 



BULLHEAD MINNOW^ 



Ceratichthys perspicuus (Girard) 



This minnow has a rather stout body with a heavy, blunt head. It is 

 a light olive in color and has a lateral stripe ending in a spot at the base 

 of the caudal fin. There is a black spot on the front of the dorsal fin. 

 The teeth are 4 — 4. They have grinding surfaces and are slightly hooked. 

 There are 39 to 44 scales in the lateral line and usually 7 above and 4 

 below. The dorsal fin has 9 rays; the anterior ray is thickened. The anal 

 fin has 7 rays. The intestine is shorter than that of Hyhorhynchus 

 notatus, which this minnow closely resembles. This species reaches a 

 length of 3 inches. 



The bullhead minnow ranges from eastern Nebraska and South 

 Dakota through the Ohio drainage of Indiana and Ohio into Pennsyl- 

 vania and south into Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas. This species is 

 common in the larger streams of southern Minnesota. It was reported 

 by Greene (1935) from the Mississippi River and its tributaries from 

 Lake Pepin southward. 



GENUS Hyhorhynchus Agassiz 



BLUNTNOSE MINNOW 



Hyhorhynchus notatus (Rafinesque) 



The body of the bluntnose minnow (Figure 24A) is elongate. It is 

 olivaceous silver in color. There is a prominent spot on the tail fin and 



