Western Blacknose Dace
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Name and Code
Family
Leuciscidae - minnows
Species
Rhinichthys obtusus
Taxonomic Authority
Agassiz 1854
Common Name(s)
Western Blacknose Dace
French Name
naseux noir de l'ouest
Species Code
630
Family TSN
1198935
Parent TSN
163381
Species TSN
689949
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2015-08-17)
National Rank (NRank)
N5 (2016-02-09)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
S5 (1997-10-02)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
native
General Abundance
common
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
forage fish; bait fish (occasional)
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-4.9948
Slope (b)
2.944
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
riverine
Environment
benthic
Trophic Class
invertivore
Thermal Regime
coolwater
Habitat Preference
riffles and runs of cool, small- to medium-sized streams with moderate to steep gradient and gravel substrate; rarely lakes; preferred water temperature range 19-25°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Lithophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
May-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
12-21
Fecundity
264-1,360
Nursery Habitat(s)
riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
6.9-9.7 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.003-0.007
Age at Maturity (yrs)
2
Maximum Length (cm)
12.4 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
0.027
Lifespan (yrs)
3-4
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
10.0 TL
Record Weight (kg)
none
Ontario Range Map
Western Blacknose Dace range
Ontario Distribution
Great Lakes basin, Winnipeg-English River basin
Photographs
Western Blacknose Dace photograph
Western Blacknose Dace photograph
Notes
formerly considered a subspecies of Rhinichthys atratulus
Information Sources
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