Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)

Scientific name: Rhinichthys osculus Girard, 1856

Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)

The Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 9–11°C (48–52°F).

Speckled dace care at a glance

Temperature
9–11°C (48–52°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 6 - 7; Vertebrae: 37 - 38. Body elongate, greatest depth in front of dorsal fin. Head bluntly triangular, a small but distinct hump present behind the head. Mouth inferior, sucker-like, lower jaw with fleshy lip. Overall coloration gray or gray-brown with scattered and vague darker flecks, usually above midline of sides; lower sides and belly somewhat yellowish or creamy white. A faint lateral band present.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Rhinichthys osculus
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
11.0
Common length
6.3
Environment
Freshwater;; pH range: 6.8 - 7.8; dH range: 5 - 25 demersal
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
North America: western drainages (Pacific and endorheic) from Columbia River in British Columbia, Canada to Colorado River in Arizona and New Mexico, USA and south into Sonora, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Bait: usually
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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