Stats

Lifespan

2-4 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Freshwater stream

Range

North America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

This small minnow lives in the fast-moving gravel streams of North America. A dark stripe runs from its snout to its tail to help it blend into shifting shadows.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Cypriniformes

Family

Leuciscidae

Genus

Rhinichthys

Species

Rhinichthys obtusus