Keys - Question
Glossary
Identification keys | FishBase
Key to the minnow or carp family (Cyprinidae) of Canada.
Scott, W.B. and E.J. Crossman, 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Bull. Fish. Res. Board Can. 184:1-966. (Ref. 1998) [Key No. 86]
Note: n = 84
Couplet Character Next Prev Link
1 a Dorsal fin base long, more than 11 soft dorsal rays; dorsal and anal fins each with strong spine, serrated on trailing edge. 2 (1)  
1 b Dorsal fin base short, fewer than 11 soft dorsal rays (except Acrocheilus alutaceus) and Richardsonius balteatus, which may occasionally have 11 rays); no spines in fins. 3 (1)  
2 a Two pairs of long barbels on upper jaw; pharyngeal teeth molarlike (1,3,3-3,1,1); gill rakers 21-27; scales in lateral line usually more than 32 (mirror and leather carp are only partially scaled). _ (1) Show available picture(s) for Cyprinus carpio carpio Cyprinus carpio carpio
2 b Barbels absent; pharyngeal teeth not molarlike (4-4); gill rakers 37-43; scales in lateral line usually less than 32. _ (1) Show available picture(s) for Carassius auratus auratus Carassius auratus auratus
3 a Premaxillaries not protractile (i.e., no groove across snout in midline). 4 (1)  
3 b Premaxillaries protractile (i.e., with groove across snout) 6 (1)  
4 a Lower jaw conspicuously trilobed, its centre lobe tongue shaped; body not obviously speckled or blotched; body stout. _ (3) Show available picture(s) for Exoglossum maxillingua Exoglossum maxillingua
4 b Lower jaw of normal shape; body flecked with darkened scales or speckled; body streamlined. 5 (3)  
5 a Snout long, projecting far beyond mouth; lateral band indistinct or absent (except on young-of-the-year). _ (4) Show available picture(s) for Rhinichthys cataractae Rhinichthys cataractae
5 b Snout scarcely projecting beyond mouth; lateral band prominent; rusty red lateral band on spawning males. _ (4) Show available picture(s) for Rhinichthys atratulus Rhinichthys atratulus
6 a Maxillary with barbel (sometimes concealed in maxillary groove). 7 (3)  
6 b Maxillary without a barbel. 16 (3)  
7 a Barbel terminal and slender, at or near end of maxillary (below, left). 8 (6)  
7 b Barbel in front of posterior end of upper jaw, often hidden in groove above maxillary (above, right). 23 (6)  
8 a Scales in lateral line very small, 90 or more; body deep, about 25% of total length. _ (7) Show available picture(s) for Tinca tinca Tinca tinca
8 b Scales in lateral line fewer than 80; body depth moderate, 20% or less of total length. 9 (7)  
9 a Mouth large, gape extending to below anterior margin of eye; pectoral fins long narrowed, and pointed, tips reaching to anterior base of pelvic fins or nearly so; lateral line scales 48-59. _ (8) Show available picture(s) for Platygobio gracilis Platygobio gracilis
9 b Mouth moderate to small, gape not extending to anterior margin of eye; pectoral fins rounded or bluntly pointed, not reaching base of pelvic fins. 10 (8)  
10 a Lateral line scales 52 or more. 11 (9)  
10 b Lateral line scales less than 50. 13 (9)  
11 a Lateral line scales 68-79; pelvic axillary scale well developed. _ (10) Show available picture(s) for Mylocheilus caurinus Mylocheilus caurinus
11 b Lateral line scales 52-65; pelvic axillary scale absent or weakly developed. 12 (10)  
12 a No fleshy stays on dorsal aspect of pelvic fins; lateral line scales 54-65; body sometimes with specialized darkened scales. _ (11) Show available picture(s) for Couesius plumbeus Couesius plumbeus
12 b Conspicuous fleshy stays on dorsal aspect of pelvic fins, joining fin rays to body; body conspicuously speckled; lateral line scales 52-57. _ (11) Show available picture(s) for Rhinichthys falcatus Rhinichthys falcatus
13 a Snout projecting only slightly beyond mouth. 14 (10)  
13 b Snout projecting considerably beyond mouth. 15 (10)  
14 a Angle enclosed by scale radii about 70-75°; caudal spot large and distinct; snout length into standard length more than 9 times; distinct mid-dorsal line and lateral band. _ (13) Show available picture(s) for Nocomis biguttatus Nocomis biguttatus
14 b Angle enclosed by scale radii 95-105°; no caudal spot; snout length into standard length 8 times or less; no mid-dorsal line; lateral band indistinct. _ (13) Show available picture(s) for Nocomis micropogon Nocomis micropogon
15 a Body with X-shaped dark spots, only faintly evident on Ontario specimens. _ (13) Show available picture(s) for Erimystax x-punctatus Erimystax x-punctatus
15 b Body without definite spots; scales large and deciduous; lower 3 or 4 rays of caudal fin unpigmented. _ (13) Show available picture(s) for Macrhybopsis storeriana Macrhybopsis storeriana
16 a Lateral line scales more than 55. 17 (6)  
16 b Lateral line scales 54 or fewer. 25 (6)  
17 a Mouth terminal, not overhung by snout; gape small or large. 18 (16)  
17 b Mouth inferior, overhung by snout; gape small. 22 (16)  
18 a Peritoneum black; lateral line incomplete; body robust, not noticeably compressed; size small, to about 3 inches (76 mm). 19 (17)  
18 b Peritoneum silvery or speckled, not black; lateral line complete; body laterally compressed or elongate, and pike-like; size larger, to 3.5 inches (89 mm) or more. 20 (17)  
19 a Intestine with 2 crosswise coils in addition to main loop; mouth small, terminating distinctly in advance of eye; a dark line, entire or broken, between lateral band and back. _ (18) Show available picture(s) for Phoxinus eos Phoxinus eos
19 b Intestine shorter, with single main loop; mouth larger, extending almost to below anterior margin of eye; back uniformly pigmented. _ (18) Show available picture(s) for Phoxinus neogaeus Phoxinus neogaeus
20 a Pelvic fin origin not in advance of dorsal fin, dorsal inserted over pelvic fin origin; body elongate, not markedly compressed; young with small but precise black spot at caudal base. _ (18) Show available picture(s) for Ptychocheilus oregonensis Ptychocheilus oregonensis
20 b Pelvic fin origin in advance of dorsal fin origin; body laterally compressed; no black spot at caudal base. 21 (18)  
21 a Dorsal rays 9 or 10 (seldom 8); anal rays 10-22, usually 15; snout short, less than eye diameter. _ (20) Show available picture(s) for Richardsonius balteatus Richardsonius balteatus
21 b Dorsal rays 8, rarely 7; anal rays 9 (seldom 8 or 10); snout long and pointed, greater than eye diameter. _ (20) Show available picture(s) for Clinostomus elongatus Clinostomus elongatus
22 a Lower jaw with a hard and almost straight cutting edge (like a chisel); anal rays 9 or 10; peritoneum jet black. _ (17) Show available picture(s) for Acrocheilus alutaceus Acrocheilus alutaceus
22 b Lower jaw with fleshy lip, mouth suckerlike; anal rays 6 or 7; peritoneum dark brown. _ (17) Show available picture(s) for Rhinichthys osculus Rhinichthys osculus
23 a Scales in lateral line fewer than 50; young with distinct mid-lateral black band; each scale with dense pigment anteriorly. _ (7) Show available picture(s) for Semotilus corporalis Semotilus corporalis
23 b Scales in lateral line more than 50; scales without black pigment anteriorly. 24 (7)  
24 a A black spot near anterior base of dorsal fin, sometimes indistinct in young; upper jaw extending to vertical through front of eye; lateral line scales 52-62; silvery, no distinct spawning colour. _ (23) Show available picture(s) for Semotilus atromaculatus Semotilus atromaculatus
24 b No black spot on dorsal fin; upper jaw not reaching a vertical through front of eye; barbel often small or absent; lateral line scales 65-75; sides often with scattered, darkened scales; spawning males with red on flanks and belly. _ (23) Show available picture(s) for Margariscus margarita Margariscus margarita
25 a Abdomen behind pelvic fins with a fleshy keel lacking scales; lateral line strongly decurved, following ventral outline of body; anal fin rays 12 or 13. _ (16) Show available picture(s) for Notemigonus crysoleucas Notemigonus crysoleucas
25 b Abdomen behind pelvic fins rounded over and scaled; lateral line not strongly decurved; anal fin rays usually less than 12. 26 (16)  
26 a A dark spot (sometimes faint) at front of dorsal fin, slightly above base; back flattish; first dorsal ray separated by membrane from first well-developed ray; predorsal scales small, crowded. 27 (25)  
26 b No dark spot at front of dorsal fin above base (a dark pigmented area at anterior base in Notropis umbratilis); back scarcely flattened; first dorsal ray closely attached to first well-developed ray; predorsal scales usually large and distinct. 28 (25)  
27 a Lateral line incomplete; caudal spot faint; mouth terminal but small. _ (26) Show available picture(s) for Pimephales promelas Pimephales promelas
27 b Lateral line complete; a distinct caudal spot; mouth subterminal. _ (26) Show available picture(s) for Pimephales promelas Pimephales promelas
28 a Mouth very small and nearly vertical; dorsal fin rays typically 9. _ (26) Show available picture(s) for Opsopoeodus emiliae emiliae Opsopoeodus emiliae emiliae
28 b Mouth larger; dorsal fin rays typically 8. 29 (26)  
29 a Anal fin rays 9-12 (rarely 8, but 25% of Notropis cornutus populations may have only 8 rays). 30 (28)  
29 b Anal fin rays 7 or 8 (rarely 6 or 9). 33 (28)  
30 a Origin of dorsal fin over, or in front of, vertical through insertion of pelvic fins; lateral scales twice as high as wide; lower fins of males red during spawning. _ (29) Show available picture(s) for Luxilus cornutus Luxilus cornutus
30 b Origin of dorsal fin behind vertical through insertion of pelvic fins; scales round or nearly so. 31 (29)  
31 a Body deep, depth equal to, or more than, length of head; dorsal fin with black pigmented area at anterior base; sides stippled with pigment; spawning males have bluish body, and rosy lower fins. _ (30) Show available picture(s) for Lythrurus umbratilis Lythrurus umbratilis
31 b Body slender, depth equal to or less than length of head; no black spot at base of dorsal fin. 32 (30)  
32 a Snout sharp, its length more than two-thirds distance from posterior margin of eye to posterior margin of gill cover; pigmentation on sides usually bordered below by lateral line. _ (31) Show available picture(s) for Notropis rubellus Notropis rubellus
32 b Snout blunt, its length less than two-thirds distance from posterior margin of eye to posterior margin of gill cover; pigmentation on sides terminating above lateral line. _ (31) Show available picture(s) for Notropis atherinoides Notropis atherinoides
33 a Intestine short, with single main loop; mouth usually terminal (subterminal for Notropis blennius and Notropis hudsonius). 34 (29)  
33 b Intestine elongate, coiled on right side; mouth subterminal. 42 (29)  
34 a Dorsal fin with black blotch on membranes between posterior rays (except in young); eye usually less than one-quarter, always less than one-third, length of head in adults; snout sharp or pointed. _ (33) Show available picture(s) for Cyprinella spiloptera Cyprinella spiloptera
34 b Dorsal fin without black blotch on membranes between posterior rays; eye more than one-quarter length of head in adults; snout not sharp or pointed. 35 (33)  
35 a Lateral band indistinct or absent, sometimes diffuse posteriorly; body sometimes what compressed and deep; mouth subterminal. 36 (34)  
35 b Lateral band usually distinc (less so on Notropis volucellus and Notropis stramineus), often extending onto head; body slender; mouth usually terminal. 37 (34)  
36 a A large, conspicuous black spot at base of caudal fin (particularly obvious on young); scales in lateral line 38-42; anal rays 8. _ (35) Show available picture(s) for Notropis hudsonius Notropis hudsonius
36 b No black spot at caudal base; scales in lateral line 38-45; anal rays 7. _ (35) Show available picture(s) for Notropis blennius Notropis blennius
37 a Lateral band usually dark and obvious, continued forward through eye and onto snout; lateral line complete or incomplete. 38 (35)  
37 b Lateral band weakly developed or dusky; not continued forward through eye; lateral line complete. 41 (35)  
38 a Mouth very small, almost vertical; upper jaw extending only to vertical through nostril; lateral line nearly or quite complete; peritoneum black. _ (37) Show available picture(s) for Notropis anogenus Notropis anogenus
38 b Mouth larger, upper jaw reaching beyond a vertical through nostril almost to below eye; peritoneum silvery. 39 (37)  
39 a Lateral band on chin (chin black), and on premaxillaries. _ (38) Show available picture(s) for Notropis heterodon Notropis heterodon
39 b Lateral band on snout, but not on chin (chin no black). 40 (38)  
40 a Anal rays typically 8, sometimes 7; dorsal fin located over or behind a vertical through pelvic insertion; lateral line complete. _ (39) Show available picture(s) for Notropis heterolepis Notropis heterolepis
40 b Anal rays typically 7, sometimes 8; dorsal fin inserted over or before a vertical through pelvic insertion; lateral line incomplete. _ (39) Show available picture(s) for Notropis bifrenatus Notropis bifrenatus
41 a Anal rays usually 8 (sometimes 9); black pigment about anus and base of anal fin; pigmentation extending below lateral line; no distinct mid-dorsal stripe. _ (37) Show available picture(s) for Notropis volucellus Notropis volucellus
41 b Anal rays usually 7; little or no black pigment about anus or base of anal fin, nor below lateral line, thin but distinct mid-dorsal stripe. _ (37) Show available picture(s) for Notropis stramineus Notropis stramineus
42 a Dorsal fin rounded; scales with about 20 radii in adult; colour brassy. _ (33) Show available picture(s) for Hybognathus hankinsoni Hybognathus hankinsoni
42 b Dorsal fin somewhat falcate; scales with about 10 radii in adult; colour silvery. _ (33) Show available picture(s) for Hybognathus nuchalis Hybognathus nuchalis
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Page created by: Eli, 10.05.01, last modified by Eli, 21.01.03.