Margariscus nachtriebi (Cox, 1896)
Northern pearl dace

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Plagopterinae
Max. size:  16 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: Atlantic, Hudson Bay, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins in south Canada and north USA from Atlantic Coast to south Northwest Territories, east British Columbia, and Montana; south to New York, Wisconsin and Iowa. Isolated population in upper Missouri River basin in South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal soft rays: 8-8. <>Margariscus nachtriebi can be distinguished by the possession of the following characters: usually complete lateral line; 60-75 small lateral scales; short head; fairly deep caudal peduncle; flaplike barbel in groove above mouth (often missing on 1 or both side); almost cylindrical body; rounded snout; small, slightly subterminal mouth (seldom reaching front of eye); origin of dorsal fin behind origin of pelvic fin; 8 dorsal rays; 8 anal rays; and pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2. Body dark olive gray above, often with black herringbone lines, dark stripe along back; many small black and brown specks (absent in western populations) on silver side; white, yellow or red below; black stripe along side, black caudal spot on young; stripe vague on adult. Breeding male has bright orange-red lower side, pale yellow stripe along belly and many small tubercles on head (Ref. 86798).
Biology:  Inhabits pools of creeks and small rivers, ponds and lakes. Usually found over sand or gravel (Ref. 86798).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.