Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Leuciscidae (Minnows) > Pogonichthyinae
Etymology: Luxilus: Latin, luxilus, derived from Lux = light, refered to a small silvery fish (Ref. 45335); chrysocephalus: From the words chrysocephalus, meaning golden head, and isolepis, equal scales (referring to the more regular scale pattern) (Ref. 10294).
More on author: Rafinesque.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Subtropical; 46°N - 31°N
North America: Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from western New York and Wisconsin, south to Alabama, Louisiana and eastern Texas, USA; Gulf Coast drainages from Mobile Bay in Georgia and Alabama, to Sabine River in Louisiana, USA. Introduced to Escambia River system in Florida and Alabama.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 6.7 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 10294); common length : 8.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. reported age: 4 years (Ref. 12193)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Inhabits rocky pools near riffles in clear to fairly turbid creeks and small to medium rivers (Ref. 86798). Feeds on terrestrial insects, filamentous and unicellular algae, and a variety of aquatic invertebrate often dominated by mayfly nymphs (Ref. 10294). Oviparous (Ref. 205), nest spawners (Ref. 52559).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 2011. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 663p. (Ref. 86798)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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