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.. n .' LATERAl LINE DECURVED I t broadly and deeply decurved; pharyngeal teeth 5-5 (occasionally 4-4); dorsal fin with 8 rays; onal fin falcate, with 11-14 rays; dorsal fin origin distinctly behind pelvics. Color, clear dark greenish-olive above, becoming steel-blue in some lights, sides silvery with goldea reflections; a half-diamond or triangular-shaped spot of dark color alaTe or less evident at the base of each scale. The Golden Shiner shows a decided preference for lakes, but is found in the quiet sections of larger rivers. It prefers shoal areas where aquatic vegetation is moderate 10 dense. It attains a maximum length of 10 to 12 inches, growing to a length of 3 inches in its sec- ond year of life under average condilions. Spawning occurs over a long period, lasting well into July. The e~gs are adhesive and are scattered over beds of rooted aquatic plants. The food of the Golden Shiner is primarily animal plankton, although plant plankton, other algae, both terrestrial and aquatic Dects, and other small aquatic animals make up their diet. The Western Golden Shiner is DOt overly abundant in Colorado waters. It is a good bait minnow. Itrontributes to the diet of game fish in the waters it inhabits. This ipCcies has been acclaimed as a good food fish, but seldom reaches a suitable length for table pur- poses. The Squowfishes Genus Ptychocheilus Agassiz Body elongate, little elevated, caudal peduncle not contracted; head long and slender, pike-like; mouth nearly hori~al, widely cleft, maxillary extending to below eye; upper lip rather below eye Iewl; lower jaw included both onterior- ly and laterally; no barbel; thick lips; dDrsal fin origin behind pelvics; gill rakers short; intestinal conal short; scales tmall, little imbricated, mastly longer than deep; lateral line decurved; pharyngMt bone with straight limb long and slender, teeth 2, 5-4, 2, teeth wide ~, subconical, scarcely compressed, slightly curved at tip, no trace of grinding surface. . One species is represented in Coloradit. . -,(2- . ~-!, ," ;-,' ~,-~,;'" ,"'.;.' ,,;,, " j< ..;. ".":<' r ..