Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae

Family
Leuciscidae (Minnows)
Tolerance
Sensitive
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 103 bioassessment sites, 18 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 55 fisheries assessment sites, and 18 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 171 distinct sites, or 11.3% of the 1513 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 39th most commonly collected species.

The Longnose Dace was collected in 237 bioassessment sampling sessions and 113 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 18 rapid bioassessment sessions and 18 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 13,640 individual Longnose Dace specimens, ranking it the #28 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Olive-green to brown on the back and upper sides shading to white on the belly. Darkened scale pockets give the sides a mottled look, and the lateral band is indistinct in adults. Breeding males are washed with pink on the lower parts of the body. There are 61 to 73 scales in the complete lateral line. Hooked pharyngeal teeth are arranged in a 2, 4-4, 2 pattern, but this formula may vary. The upper jaw and snout greatly overhangs the lower jaw, and a barbel is present at the tip of the maxillary. A silver peritoneum speckled with brown covers the gut cavity, and the air bladder is simple. Dorsal and pelvic fins have 8 rays, while the anal fin has 7 rays, and the pectoral fins have from 13 to 15 rays.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found