Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: MINNOW, MISSISSIPPI SILVERY

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: CYPRINIFORMES

Family: CYPRINIDAE

Genus: HYBOGNATHUS

Species: NUCHALIS

Taxonomic Authority: AGASSIZ

Taxonomy References: 001 , 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S3S4
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 005 , 012 , 017

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits pools and backwaters of clear permanent streams with little or no current and mud or sand bottoms."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001 , 009 , 010

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in the Current, Black, St. Francis, and Mississippi R., and in the larger ditches of southeast lowlands *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
ADAIR STODDARD CARTER ANDREW
BOLLINGER CLARK ATCHISON
BUTLER IRON AUDRAIN
CAPE GIRARDEAU LEWIS BARRY
DUNKLIN LINCOLN BARTON
FRANKLIN MADISON BATES
JEFFERSON MARION BENTON
MISSISSIPPI REYNOLDS BOONE
NEW MADRID BUCHANAN
PEMISCOT CALDWELL
PERRY CALLAWAY
PIKE CAMDEN
RALLS CARROLL
RIPLEY CASS
SCOTT CEDAR
SHANNON CHARITON
ST. CHARLES CHRISTIAN
ST. LOUIS CLAY
STE. GENEVIEVE CLINTON
WAYNE COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
JACKSON
JASPER
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MARIES
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PETTIS
PHELPS
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RANDOLPH
RAY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHELBY
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 003 , 014 , 015 , 004

Distribution by Watersheds

Miss. R. from Des Moines R. to MO. R.; and North R.
North Fork from Headwaters to South Fork
Salt R.
Dardenne Creek
Miss. R. from St. Louis to River Aux Vases
Meramec R.
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Miss R. from Ohio R. to Arkansas Border
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Mo. R. from Gasconade R. to Miss. R.
Black R.
Current R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Grand River
Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Glaciated Plains: Lincoln Hills
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, sand"
"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, mud"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 009 , 010

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 006

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Omnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Detritus (organic); See Comments

Comments for larval food habits:
"Feed on bottom ooze *008*"

References for larval food habits: 008

Juvenile Food Habits

Detritus (organic); See Comments

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
"Feed on bottom ooze *008*"

References Juvenile Food Habits 008

Adult Food Habits

Detritus (organic); See Comments

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 008 , 011

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity: clear water, but tolerates periodic cloudiness
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Natural features: pools

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 009 , 010

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Water depth specified in comments(00230)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 009 , 010

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity: clear water, but tolerates periodic cloudiness
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Elevation 101-300'
Elevation 301-500'
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 009 , 010 , 015

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity: clear water, but tolerates periodic cloudiness
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: side-channels
Big river habitat: backwaters
Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: third order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 009 , 010 , 015 , 016

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity: clear water, but tolerates periodic cloudiness
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Gradient: low
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: side-channels
Big river habitat: backwaters
Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: third order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 009 , 010

Niche Requirement Summary

Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Big river habitat: backwaters
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: side-channels
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Elevation 101-300'
Elevation 301-500'
Gradient: low
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: pools
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: third order stream
Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity: clear water, but tolerates periodic cloudiness
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Water level: permanently flooded
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
003 Most often associated with bullhead minnow, blacktail shiner, ribbon shiner, and weed shiner *001*
004 Scrapes ooze off the bottom *012*
007 Adults in breeding condition have been taken in early June at the latitude of MO *012*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable
038 Adults commonly 3-5", to maximum of about 6". In southeast MO, reach 1.4-2.6" by end of 1st summer, 3-3.5" by end of 2nd summer *001*

Life History Information

Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Closely associated plant or animal species specified in comments(003)
Foraging strategy specified in comments(004)
Foraging sites: water
Foraging sites: feed on bottom of stream, lake or pond
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
003 Most often associated with bullhead minnow, blacktail shiner, ribbon shiner, and weed shiner *001*
004 Scrapes ooze off the bottom *012*
007 Adults in breeding condition have been taken in early June at the latitude of MO *012*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable
038 Adults commonly 3-5", to maximum of about 6". In southeast MO, reach 1.4-2.6" by end of 1st summer, 3-3.5" by end of 2nd summer *001*

References for life history: 001 , 012 , 004

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - control sedimentation
Water - develop/maintain streamside vegetation
Water - stabilize streambanks
Agricultural - control erosion

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - control aquatic plants

Adverse Management References: 004

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28, Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
004 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
005 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
006 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
007 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
008 Whitaker, J.O.,Jr. 1977. Seasonal Changes In Food Habits Of Some Cyprinid Fishes From The White River At Petersburg, Indiana. Amer. Midl. Nat. 97(2):411-418.
009 Cross, F.B. 1967. Handbook Of Fishes Of Kansas. Univ. Ks Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 45. 357 Pp.
010 Echelle, A.A. and G.D. Schnell. 1976. Factor Analysis Of Species Associations Among Fishes Of The Kiamichi River, Oklahoma. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 105(1):17-31.
011 Forbes, S.A. and R.E. Richardson. 1920. The Fishes Of Illinois (2nd Ed.). IL Nat. Hist. Surv. 3:1-367.
012 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
013 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
014 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
015 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Collection Records. Mo Dept Of Conservation, 1110 College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. 573-882-9880.
016 Unpb Tibbs, J.E. 1995. Habitat Use By Small Fishes In The Lower Mississippi River Related To Foraging By Least Terns (Sterna Altillarum). M.S. Thesis, Univ. Of Missouri-Columbia. 184 Pp.
017 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.