Pugnose Minnow
(Opsopoeodus emiliae)
The pugnose minnow was historically abundant in Ohio where clear water with aquatic vegetation was present. Due to their required habitat becoming increasingly rare they are on the verge of being extirpated from the state
Description
This species is the only minnow in Ohio with nine dorsal fin rays. The mouth is small and nearly vertical. Adults have a "window" that lacks any dark pigment in the center of their dorsal fin. They have a thin dusky stripe down their side running from the tip of their snout across the eyes and extending to the tail.
Habitat and Habits
The pugnose minnow prefers clear water with aquatic vegetation where the bottom is comprised of organic debris or sand. Historically they were found in slow moving streams and rivers of Northwest Ohio. They were also found in several glacial lakes around the state and in the mashes and bays of Lake Erie. Today there are very few of these fish left in the state.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Pugnose minnows spawn in the spring. The males select a spawning site, usually under a flat rock, where the female lays adhesive eggs. The male guards the eggs, but does make excursions away from the nest unlike the bluntnose or fathead minnow.