Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Leuciscidae (Minnows) > Plagopterinae
Etymology: Margariscus: Greek, margariskos = pearl (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Henry Francis Nachtrieb (1859–1942) was state zoologist of Minnesota, USA. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate
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.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 86798)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal soft rays: 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).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Inhabits pools of creeks and small rivers, ponds and lakes. Usually found over sand or gravel (Ref. 86798).
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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