Eastern blacknose dace

Appearance

As a fry, this fish is 5 mm long, and some of the larger eastern blacknose dace can reach slightly over 100 mm. They tend to live for two or three years and grow continuously during this period.They have a fusiform body shape and the mouth is in a subterminal position. The lateral line is darkly colored and has 56 to 70 scales from anterior to posterior. Above the lateral line coloration can vary between shades of dark brown and even olive, while below the lateral line coloration is lighter up until a white belly. Their caudal fin is forked, and their single dorsal fin has 8 fin rays and no spines. They have a pair of pectoral fins and a pair of abdominal ventral fins, as well as an anal fin with 7 rays. All fins are clear to yellow except males during spawning season acquire an orange to red tint in all fins and along the lateral line.

Distribution

This fish is mainly found along the southern border of Canada extending along from Manitoba to the Atlantic Ocean, south along the east coast of the United States and slightly inland to South Carolina and Georgia.

Reproduction

Eastern blacknose dace spawning takes place between May and June and occurs in shallow water over gravel riffles. During this breeding season, the male develops nuptial tubercles on various parts of the body including the head and fins. His coloration also turns orange-red during this time along the lateral stripe and pectoral fins. Males of this species are nonterritorial and mate with one female. Eggs are deposited into crude nests which are depressions in the gravel created by vigorous movement during spawning. Larger females have higher fecundity and lay between 400 and 1100 eggs. Following egg deposition, there is little to no parental care for the young.