Redside Dace
ExploreFish
Redside Dace
clinostomus elongatus
The Redside Dace is a vibrant, small freshwater fish celebrated for its striking colors and active behavior. Found in the cool, clear headwaters of eastern North America, this remarkable minnow stands out with a brilliant crimson stripe that runs along its side, contrasted by an upper yellow band. Unlike most minnows, it possesses a remarkably large mouth and a penchant for aerial acrobatics, frequently leaping from the water to snatch low-flying insects. As a species highly sensitive to water quality and siltation, the Redside Dace serves as an important environmental sentinel.
Habitat: Typically found in cool, clear headwaters and small streams with gravelly or stony bottoms, characterized by overhanging streamside vegetation and shaded pools.
Appearance
This slender minnow typically ranges from 7 to 12 centimeters in length, featuring a distinctly pointed snout and a disproportionately large, upward-slanted mouth resembling that of a trout. Its most striking visual feature is a vivid, bright red stripe running horizontally along the middle of its silver-green body, complemented by a bright yellow-neon stripe directly above it. During the spring spawning season, these colors intensify dramatically in males, contrasting with a dark olive-green back and a silvery-white belly.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderCypriniformesFamilyLeuciscidaeGenusClinostomus
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Despite being a member of the minnow family, its massive mouth structure allows it to swallow prey nearly as large as its own head.
The Redside Dace is a 'sentinel species'—its sudden disappearance from a stream is a highly accurate warning sign of declining water quality.
They rely heavily on land-based insects, meaning they are highly dependent on the health of the trees and shrubs growing along the stream banks.
Special abilities
Ability
Surface Leaping
The Redside Dace can leap several centimeters out of the water to capture low-flying terrestrial insects.
Ability
Macro-Gape Feeding
It possesses a disproportionately large mouth for a minnow, allowing it to ingest larger terrestrial insects than other species of similar size.
Ability
Nest Association
To protect its offspring, it deposits its eggs in the active gravel nests of other fish species, benefiting from their nest-guarding behaviors.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 7+ cm
- Weight
- 0.005+ kg
- Lifespan
- 3+ years
- Top Speed
- 5 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 400+
- Incubation
- 3+ days
Diet & Feeding
The Redside Dace feeds primarily on terrestrial insects that hover near or fall onto the water's surface, supplemented by aquatic insect larvae.
Age differences: Juveniles consume smaller zooplankton and micro-crustaceans, transitioning to terrestrial insects and larger larvae as their mouth size increases.
Primary Foods
- Mayflies
- Flies
- Beetles
- Midges
- Spiders
Foraging Method
- Pursuit
Ecological connections
mutualism
Creek Chub
Semotilus atromaculatus
Lays its eggs in the gravel nests built by Creek Chubs, utilizing their nest construction and defense.
hunts
Giant Mayfly
Hexagenia limbata
Preys heavily on the adult stage of these insects by leaping from the water.
eaten by
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
A major aquatic predator in cool streams that actively preys upon Redside Dace.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Redside Dace?
The easiest way to identify Redside Dace is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Redside Dace?
7+ cm
How much does Redside Dace weigh?
0.005+ kg
How long does Redside Dace live?
3+ years
How fast can Redside Dace move?
5 km/h
What does Redside Dace eat?
The Redside Dace feeds primarily on terrestrial insects that hover near or fall onto the water's surface, supplemented by aquatic insect larvae.
Where is Redside Dace usually found?
Typically found in cool, clear headwaters and small streams with gravelly or stony bottoms, characterized by overhanging streamside vegetation and shaded pools.
How does Redside Dace hunt?
Pursuit
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