7621

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7621
• Author: Woodling, J.
• Title: Colorado's Little Fish
• USFW Year: 1985.
• USFW - Doc Type: A Guide to the Minnows and Other Lesser Known Fishes in the State of Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

Family Cyprinidae
THE MINNOWS
The minnows are the most diverse fam-
ily of fish, in terms of species, in the world,
as well as in Colorado. About 28, species
of minnows are found in Colorado. As
previous discussed, about five additional
species of minnows that were native to
Colorado are now believed to be extir-
pated from the state. Five species of min-
now are native to the streams and rivers
on the west side of the Continental Divide
in Colorado. Three of these species are
chubs of the genus Gila. One additional
Gila species is found in the Rio Grande
system. About 15 species of minnows
native to streams and rivers of the eastern
slope of the Continental Divide are still
found in the state. Five of these species
are shiners of the genus Notropis. Varying
numbers of minnow species have been
introduced to all the river systems of Col-
orado. In most cases these introductions
were accidental. Other than Gila and
Notropis, all other genera of minnows in
Colorado are represented by one or two
species.
KEY TO THE
FAMILY CYPRINIDAE
1. a. A stout, serrated spine present at
anterior (front edge) of dorsal and
anal fins.
Go to Number 2.
b. No stout, serrated spine at anterior
of dorsal and anal spines.
Go to Number 3.
2. a. Upper jaw with two fleshy barbels at
each corner of the mouth.
CARP
Cyprinus carpio, see page 18.
b. Upper jaw lacks two fleshy barbels
at each corner of the mouth.
GOLDFISH
Carassius auratus, see page 19.
3. a. Distance from the front of the anal
fin to the tip of the snout is 3 or
more times longer than the dis-
tance from the front of the anal fin
to the base of the tail fin.
Go to Number 4.
b. Distance from the front of the anal
fin to the tip of the snout is 21/2 or
less times longer than the distance
from the front of the anal fin to base
of the tail fin.
Go to Number 5.
4. a. Scales comparatively large, 44.47
scales in lateral line.
GRASS CARP
Ctenopharyngodon idella,
see page 48.
b. Scales comparatively small, more
than 80 scales in lateral line.
17
COLORADO SQUAWFISH
Ptychocheilus lucius (in part), see
page 25.
5. a. Anal fin with 10 or more rays.
Go to Number 6.
b. Anal fin with less than 10 rays.
Go to Number 8.
6. a. A scaleless, fleshy keel running
along the belly from the back of the
pelvic fins to the anus. The anterior
portion of the lateral line is strongly
decurved. Mouth is oblique.
GOLDEN SHINER
Notemigonus crysoleucas, seepage
47.
b. No scales, fleshy keel on belly.
Anterior portion of lateral line is
not strongly decurved. Mouth is
terminal.
Go to Number 7.
Fleshy keel on a golden shiner.
7. a. Scales crowded in predorsal area.
Inguinal process present.
REDSIDE SHINER
Richardsonius balteatus, see
page 39.
b. Predorsal scales not crowded in the
predorsal area though scales may
be imbedded or partially absent. In-
quinal process absent.
Genus Gila in part, see page 27.
8. a. Scales on top of the back and in
front of the dorsal fin are smaller
than those on the remainder of
body and crowded together. A
short ray at the front of the dorsal
fin is separate from first principal
ray.
FATHEAD MINNOW
Pimephales promelas, see page 35.
b. Scales on the upper back are about
the same size as on the rest of the
body. The short ray at the front of
the dorsal fin is closely attached to
the first principal ray.
Go to Number 9.
9. a. Lower jaw with a prominent carti-
liganous ridge inside the lower lip.
Intestine looped around swim-
bladder.
STONEROLLER
Campostoma anornalum, see
page 20.
b. Lower lip without cartilaginous
ridge. The intestine not looped
around swimbladder.
Go to Number 10.
10.a. One or two small, slender barbels
(A hand lense may be required to
observe this structure) present at or
near the angle of each jaw.
Go to Number 11.
b. There is not a barbel at or near the
angle of the jaw.
Go to Number 16.
ll.a. Two barbels on each side of the
mouth located at the edge of the
jaw.
ARKANSAS RIVER SPECKLED
CHUB
Hybopsis aestiualis (Girard). This
species, reported once in the state
by Jordan (1891) from the Arkan-
sas River near Pueblo, is considered
extirpated from Colorado.
b. Only one barbel located on each
side of the jaw.
Go to Number 12.
12. a. Caudal fin rectangular in shape,
dorsal and anal fins convex, scales
very small and imbedded, 95.100
along lateral line.
TENCH
Tinca tinca, see page 49.
b. Caudal fin deeply indented, dorsal
and anal fins rounded or falcate,
scales comparatively larger, less
than 80 along lateral line.
Go to Number 13.
13.a. A small and flap-like barbel located
in front of the posterior tip of the
maxilla in a groove, or slot, between
the maxilla and head.
CREEK CHUB
Semotilus atromaculatus, see
page 31.
b. A small and round barbel located
at, or just above, the posterior tip of
the maxilla.
Go to Number 14.
14. a. Scale radii present in all fields of
body scales.
Genus Rhinichthys, seepage 23.
b. Scale radii present in only posterior
field of body scales.
Go to Number 15.
15.a. Pectoral and dorsal fins are falcate.
The head is somewhat flat on top.
FLATHEAD CHUB
Hybopsis gracilis, see page 33.
b. Pectoral and dorsal fins rounded.
The head is not flattened on the top.
HORNYHEAD CHUB
Nocomis biguttatus (Kirtland)
Reported from several transition-
zone stream reaches in Colorado
by Ellis (1914), this species is
thought to be extirpated from
Colorado.
Colorado's Little Fish