Shorthead Redhorse

Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Moxostoma macrolepidotum, Eng. Short Head Redhorse, belongs to the family of Redhorse.

Distribution and habitat

Moxostoma macrolepidotum occurs in the central and northern North America. Originally the species in the Great Lakes region, in Canada's Hudson Bay, home to the Mississippi River and in the St. Lawrence River. They live on the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Alberta to Oklahoma to Alabama and the southern United States. Another area of ​​distribution are the waters of the east coast to the Santee River in South Carolina. One finds the fish species in different habitats, such as the Hudson River in New York, the river system of the Embarras River in Illinois, or Lake Texoma Reservoir and Red River in Grayson County, in northern Texas. They can live both in clear cool waters and gloomy by sedimentation in warmer waters. Therefore, the species is considered " habitat generalist ". M. macrolepidotum prefers large rivers and lakes as habitat.

Description

Moxostoma macrolepidotum is up to about 75 centimeters long and 3.9 kilograms. As the head of the English name Short Head Redhorse suggests is short, with specimens over 19 cm to represent about 20 % of the standard length of. The rear end of the lower lip is almost straight, the folds of the lower lip will be interrupted by transverse grooves. The back is olive light brown, the sides tinged with yellowish olive and copper or silver, the bottom white or yellowish. The concave and sickle-shaped dorsal fin has 12 to 13 fin rays, the large tail fin is forked moderate. The distal margin of the caudal fin is dark red in general, the pelvic fins and the anal fin vary from white to pale orange. Along the sidelines are usually 42 to 44 scales.

Way of life

M. macrolepidotum investigated, primarily in nearby food and feeds this small animals and plant material. The fish can be a maximum of 17 years old. Sexually mature animals are 2.5 to six years, depending on the water temperature of their habitat. The spawning season, in spring (March to June) with increasing water looking for fish on smaller rivers and spawn over gravel or rocky ground from. Is spawned at water temperatures of 7-16 ° C. The Rogner (females ) can thereby produce between 18000-44000 eggs.

Economic Importance

M. macrolepidotum is a sport fish, despite its rich boneless meat. In the ecosystem of North American waters is the kind of important prey fish for pike species such as muskellunge and pike. Juveniles of M. macrolepidotum are pike, perch and glass eyes black bass as food.

Threat status

The stock of M. macrolepidotum is not considered at risk, however, is affected by the aquatic structural measures partially. Dams also impede the migration path of salmon and trout, also make it M. macrolepidotum impossible to arrive at its spawning grounds. M. macrolepidotum but is less sensitive than other Saugkarpfenarten. In contrast, the species is very sensitive to chemical water pollution, whether from municipal wastewater or industrial residues. Especially the insecticide chlordane affects strongly negative effect on the population of M. macrolepidotum.