Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus
This species was found at 691 bioassessment sites, 111 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 139 fisheries assessment sites, and 19 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 888 distinct sites, or 58.3% of the 1523 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 5th most commonly collected species.
The Bluntnose Minnow was collected in 1494 bioassessment sampling sessions and 338 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 111 rapid bioassessment sessions and 22 presence-only sessions.
The biological assessment program has collected a total of 129,391 individual Bluntnose Minnow specimens, ranking it the #2 most collected fish.
Bluntnose Minnows have a slender body and are almost cylindrical in cross section with a broad flat area just before the dorsal fin. Like all members of this family, they have a shortened, closely attached first ray in the dorsal fin and smaller, crowded scales in front of the dorsal fin. A prominent, dark, lateral band extends from the snout to the tail, which ends in an intense dark spot that distinguishes them from fathead and bullhead minnows. The body is pale olive-green above, with silvery-bluish sides and silvery beneath. A faint spot appears in the first few rays of the dorsal fin. The mouth is almost horizontal, slightly overhung by the snout and has no barbel. Broad, flat pharyngeal teeth, with long cutting edges, are arranged in a 4-4 pattern. The complete lateral line has 41 to 44 scales, and the intestine is about twice the length of the body. Dorsal and pelvic fins have 8 rays, while the anal fin has 7 rays, and the pectoral fins have 15 or 16 rays. Males develop a blackened head with large tubercles arranged in three rows and a bluish body during spawning.
HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found