# Eastern Blacknose Dace (*rhinichthys atratulus*) The Eastern Blacknose Dace is a small fish that loves to swim in cool streams and rivers. With its distinctive black stripe on its nose, it's easy to spot when it darts around rocks! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Cool, clean streams and rivers with rocky bottoms. - **Also known as:** Blacknose Dace, Eastern Dace ![Eastern Blacknose Dace](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Blacknose_dace_-_Rhinichthys_atratulus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blacknose_dace_-_Rhinichthys_atratulus.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Blacknose Dace has a slender, torpedo-shaped body with a distinctive dark stripe running from its snout to its tail. Its back is typically mottled dark brown or olive, fading to a creamy white belly. Males often display reddish-orange fins and a bright stripe during breeding season. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Cypriniformes - **Family:** Cyprinidae - **Genus:** Rhinichthys ## Interesting facts - Males get a bright red 'nose' when it's time to find a partner! - Their scientific name means 'snout-fish' because of their pointed nose! - These tiny fish can survive even when streams get very low! - They love to build little nests by moving pebbles with their mouths! ## Special abilities - **Super Camouflage:** Eastern Blacknose Dace has mottled dark patterns that help them blend perfectly with rocky stream beds, making them hard for predators to spot. - **Keen Snout Sensor:** Eastern Blacknose Dace can sniff out tiny prey in murky water because of its keen sense of smell, located in its pointed nose. - **Rapid Dash Escape:** Eastern Blacknose Dace can quickly dart away from danger because of its powerful tail fin, helping it escape hungry birds and bigger fish. - **Breeding Colors:** Eastern Blacknose Dace can develop bright red and orange colors during spring because these vibrant hues attract mates for spawning. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6-13 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-4 years - **Swim Speed:** 12 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 2 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding They eat tiny insects and larvae found on the stream bottom, sometimes even algae! - **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, aquatic worms, small crustaceans, algae, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — A common predator in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Belted Kingfisher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/belted-kingfisher) (*Megaceryle alcyon*) — These birds dive to catch dace from above. - **Eaten by:** [North American River Otter](https://www.snappit.app/explore/north-american-river-otter) (*Lontra canadensis*) — Otters are active hunters in dace streams. - **Eats:** Mayfly Nymph (*Stenonema modestum*) — Feeds on these common aquatic insect larvae. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Blacknose Dace? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Blacknose Dace? 6-13 cm ### How much does Eastern Blacknose Dace weigh? 0.002-0.015 kg ### How long does Eastern Blacknose Dace live? 2-4 years ### What does Eastern Blacknose Dace eat? They eat tiny insects and larvae found on the stream bottom, sometimes even algae! ### How fast can Eastern Blacknose Dace swim? 12 km/h ### Where is Eastern Blacknose Dace usually found? Cool, clean streams and rivers with rocky bottoms. ### How does Eastern Blacknose Dace hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-and-raritan-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [East Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Lime Rock Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lime-rock-park) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Linwood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/linwood-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Prallsville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/prallsville) — New Jersey, US · Neighborhood - [Relay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/relay) — Maryland, US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Blacknose Dace](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-blacknose-dace) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Eastern Blacknose Dace: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-blacknose-dace)