MINNOWS - CYPRINIDAE


1a. Dorsal fin with more than fifteen soft rays and an anterior
spine (Fig. 12A) ................................................................................................................... 2

1b. Dorsal fin with fewer than twelve soft rays and lacking a
saw-edged spine (Fig. 12B) ................................................................................................... 3

2a. Two barbels on each side of upper jaw (Fig. 13A); lateral
line scales 35-38 ["mirror-carp" or "leather-carp" may
have reduced or no scales] ......................................................... Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio

2b. Barbels absent from upper jaw (Fig. 13B); lateral line
scales 26-32 [Hybrids between Cyprinus carpio and Carassius
auratus are fairly common and may have one or more barbels
and 30-35 lateral line scales] ........................................................... Goldfish, Carassius auratus


3a. Distance from origin of anal fin to caudal fin base equal
to distance from anal fin origin to pelvic fin insertion, scales
large .................................................................................................................................. 4

3b. Distance from origin of anal fin to caudal fin base 1.5 to
2 times distance from anal fin origin to pelvic fin insertion,
scales small, trout-like ......................................................................................................... 5

4a. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2 with prominent parallel
grooves .......................................................................... Grass Carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella

4b. Pharyngeal teeth molariform [likely to appear via
introduction, not yet recorded in Kansas.] ............................ Black Carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus

5a. Eyes located below the lateral midline of head,
lateral line complete, ventral keel present between vent
and pelvic fins, 85 or more lateral line scales, commonly
exceeds 40cm in standard length .......................................................................................... 6

5b. Eyes located above the lateral midline of head, lateral
line complete or incomplete, with fewer than 85 lateral line
scales or if 85 or more scales then no ventral keel between
vent and pelvic fins, rarely exceeds 40cm in standard length ..................................................... 7

6a. Ventral keel on abdomen extends forward only to the
base of pelvic fins; gill rakers long and slender, comblike;
body with scattered dark blotches (except in juveniles) .. Bighead Carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

6b. Ventral keel on abdomen extends forward past pelvic
fin base to isthmus: gill rakers fused into a compact mass
covered by a net-like matrix; body lacking scattered dark
blotches [likely to appear via introduction, literature records
from Kansas not supported by voucher specimens] .......... Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

7a. Groove above upper lip not extending across tip of
snout (premaxillae nonprotractile; Fig. 16A) [Recently split
from Rhinichthys atratulus which is now known as the Eastern
Blacknose Dace] ................................................. Western Blacknose Dace, Rhinichthys obtusus

7b. Groove above upper lip extending completely across
snout (premaxillae protractile; Fig. 16B) .................................................................................. 8

8a. Principal dorsal fin rays usually ten, sometimes nine;
pharyngeal teeth usually 3,5-5,3; dorsal, anal, and caudal
fins red in life .................................................................... Rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus

8b. Principal dorsal fin rays usually eight; pharyngeal arch
never with more than two teeth in secondary row; fin color
may or may not be red ......................................................................................................... 9

9a. Barbels present (one or two at each corner of mouth;
Figs. 17D, 18A) .................................................................................................................. 10

9b. Barbels absent ............................................................................................................. 21

10a. A false barbel (in breeding males) consisting of a
fleshy outgrowth on lips near their juncture (Fig. 19A);
nuptial tubercles or their pits usually present, and confined
to snout, where they are arranged in transverse rows ......... Bluntnose Minnow, Pimephales notatus

10b. Barbels genuine, persistent in both sexes, usually
projecting from groove above or behind lips (Fig. 19B);
nuptial tubercles, if present, not arranged in definite rows
across snout ..................................................................................................................... 11

11a. Two barbels on each side of mouth (anterior pair
may be reduced in size) ...................................................................................................... 12

11b. One barbel on each side of mouth ................................................................................. 13

12a. Length of posterior barbels greater than orbit length;
length of anterior barbels greater than one-half of the orbit
length [Recently split from Macrhybopsis aestivalis][Endemic
to the Arkansas River Drainage] .................................... Peppered Chub, Macrhybopis tetranema

12b. Length of posterior barbels less than orbit length;
length of anterior barbels less than one-half of the orbit
length [Recently split from Macrhybopsis aestivalis][Known
from the Arkansas and Kansas River Drainages] .................... Shoal Chub, Macrhybopsis hyostoma

13a. Barbel minute and flat, in groove above maxillary
(Fig. 16B); mouth terminal and oblique, upper lip expanded
at center; dorsal fin with dark spot anteriorly near base;
pharyngeal teeth usually 2,5-4,2 ....................................... Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus

13b. Barbel minute to large, conical, at angle of jaws
(Fig. 19B); mouth terminal or ventral, upper lip not expanded
at center; dorsal fin without dark spot anteriorly; pharyngeal
teeth never 2,5-4,2 ............................................................................................................ 14

14a. Pectoral fins falcate (Fig. 20A); lateral-line scales 44
or more; eye small, its diameter usually less than of the head
length .............................................................................................................................. 15

14b. Pectoral fins rounded at tip (Fig. 20B); lateral-line scales
fewer than 44; eye diameter usually greater than of the head
length .............................................................................................................................. 16

15a. Head wider than deep at occiput; snout acute; breast
scaled; pharyngeal teeth 2,4-4,2 ............................................. Flathead Chub, Platygobio gracilis

15b. Head width at occiput less than head depth; snout
bluntly rounded; breast mostly scaleless; pharyngeal teeth
0,4-4,0 ............................................................................. Sicklefin Chub, Macrhybopsis meeki

16a. Anal fin rays eight (Fig. 8B); body pallid; lower lobe
of caudal fin darker than upper lobe, but with lowermost ray
white; breast scaleless except in Macrhybopsis storeriana ....................................................... 17

16b. Anal fin rays seven; body well-pigmented; caudal fin
pigmented uniformly; breast with scales ............................................................................... 19

17a. Eye large, its diameter equal to distance from hind
margin of eye to upper end of gill cleft; head depth at occiput
greater than distance from tip of snout to hind margin of eye;
breast with scales ........................................................... Silver Chub, Macrhybopsis storeriana

17b. Eye diameter less than distance from hind margin of
eye to upper end of gill cleft; head depth at occiput less than
distance from tip of snout to hind margin of eye; breast
mostly naked .................................................................................................................... 18

18a. Scales with fleshy ridges or keels; lateral-line scales
39-43; pharyngeal teeth 1,4-4,1; dorsum uniformly dusky,
without tiny scattered black spots ....................................... Sturgeon Chub, Macrhybopsis gelida

18b. Scales without fleshy ridges or keels; lateral-line scales
35-39; pharyngeal teeth 0,4-4,0; dorsum pallid, with tiny
scattered black spots ........................................................ Shoal Chub, Macrhybopsis hyostoma

or Peppered Chub Macrhybopis tetranema

(see couplet 12)


19a. Mouth ventral (Fig. 21A); eye large, its diameter equal
to distance from hind margin of eye to upper end of gill cleft,
and equal to or greater than length of upper jaw; sides with
scattered X-markings; pharyngeal teeth 0,4-4,0 .................... Gravel Chub, Erimystax x-punctatus

19b. Mouth terminal or subterminal, not overhung by snout;
eye moderate, its diameter much less than distance from hind
margin of eye to upper end of gill cleft, and less than length
of upper jaw; sides plain or with a dark lateral band;
pharyngeal teeth 1,4-4,1 .................................................................................................... 20

20a. Breeding males with tubercles only on head and
pectoral fins (Fig. 21B); Missouri River basin ....................... Hornyhead Chub, Nocomis biguttatus

20b. Breeding males with tubercles on upper sides of
body as well as on head and pectoral fins (Fig. 21C);
Neosho River basin .................................................................... Redspot Chub, Nocomis asper

21a. Anal rays usually nine or more; pharyngeal arch
with one or more teeth in secondary row (Fig. 7C), except
in Notemigonus crysoleucas ................................................................................................ 22

21b. Anal rays usually eight or fewer; pharyngeal arch
lacking teeth in secondary row, except in Cyprinella spiloptera,
Hybopsis dorsalis, Notropis blennius, Notropis boops, and
Semotilus atromaculatus .................................................................................................... 32

22a. Anal rays usually more than nine; insertion of pelvic
fins distinctly anterior to origin of dorsal fin (Fig. 22A) ............................................................ 23

22b. Anal rays usually nine; insertion of pelvic and origin
of dorsal fin approximately equidistant from tip of snout
(Fig. 22B) ......................................................................................................................... 27

23a. Midline of belly (behind base of pelvic fins) with fleshy
keel; lateral-line scales more than 45; pharyngeal teeth
0,5-5,0 ...................................................................... Golden Shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas

23b. Midline of belly (behind base of pelvic fins) not keeled;
lateral-line scales fewer than 45; pharyngeal teeth 0,4-4,0....................................................... 24

24a. Body slender, scarcely compressed, greatest width
(thickness) equal to distance from crest of back to lateral-line
row of scales (at point of greatest decurvature of lateral line);
body depth usually contained four or more times in standard
length .............................................................................................................................. 25

24b. Body deep, compressed, greatest width (thickness) less
than distance from crest of back to lateral-line row of scales
(at point of greatest decurvature of lateral line); body depth
usually contained less than four times in standard length ........................................................ 26

25a. Snout blunt, its length about equal to eye diameter
and contained more than 1.5 times in postorbital length of
head; least depth of caudal peduncle usually exceeding
distance from rip of snout to middle of pupil; tip of dorsal
fin pointed; rosy pigment lacking (Fig. 23A) ....................... Emerald Shiner, Notropis atherinoides

25b. Snout acute, its length greater than eye diameter and
contained less than 1.5 times in postorbital length of head;
least depth of caudal peduncle less than distance from rip of
snout to middle of pupil; tip of dorsal fin rounded; usually
rosy color on head, breast, and base of dorsal fin
(Fig. 23B) .................................................................... Carmine Shiner, Notropis percobromus

26a. Predorsal scale rows 25 or more (scales minute and
crowded); lateral-line scales more than 37; slight dark spot
at origin of dorsal fin; fins seldom red or orange (in Kansas
specimens) ........................................................................ Redfin Shiner, Lythrurus umbratilis

26b. Predorsal scale rows fewer than twenty (scales not
minute and crowded); lateral-line scales fewer than 37; no
dark spot at origin of dorsal fin; fins often red or orange ................ Red Shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis

27a. Dorsal fin acutely pointed, first principal ray longer
than head length; predorsal stripe indistinct or absent; body
almost unpigmented, transparent in life; sides with thin,
bright silvery longitudinal stripe ......................................... Silverband Shiner, Notropis shumardi

27b. Dorsal fin not acutely pointed, first principal ray shorter
than head length; predorsal stripe usually prominent; body
well-pigmented, not transparent in life; sides generally silvery,
without longitudinal stripe .................................................................................................. 28

28a. Predorsal length (Fig. 24A) less than or equal to
distance from dorsal origin to base of caudal fin; lining
of body cavity black; lateral-line scales 37 or more ................................................................. 29

28b. Predorsal length (Fig. 24B) usually greater than
distance from dorsal origin to base of caudal fin; lining
of body cavity silvery or dusky; lateral-line scales 37 or
fewer ............................................................................................................................... 31

29a. Scales on anterior part of sides not notably diamond
-shaped, about twice as high as long (Fig. 25A); lateral-line
scales usually 40-44 .............................................................. Cardinal Shiner, Luxilus cardinalis

29b. Scales on anterior part of sides narrowly diamond
-shaped, about three times as high as long (Fig. 25B);
lateral-line scales usually 37-40 ........................................................................................... 30

30a. Predorsal scales much smaller than scales on sides,
more than eighteen scale rows before dorsal fin; no dark
lines between dorsolateral scale rows ...................................... Common Shiner, Luxilus cornutus

30b. Predorsal scales not much smaller than scales on
sides, fewer than eighteen scale rows before dorsal fin;
dark zigzag lines, converging posteriorly atop caudal
peduncle, evident between dorsolateral scale rows ............... Striped Shiner, Luxilus chrysocephala

31a. Lower jaw shorter than upper jaw, closing into it
(Fig. 17B); posterior membranes of dorsal fin blotched,
darker than anterior membranes; caudal fin pale (unpig-
mented) basally, darker distally ........................................... Bluntface Shiner, Cyprinella camura

31b. Upper and lower jaws equal (Figs. 17A, 22A);
posterior part of dorsal fin not blotched, not darker
than anterior part; caudal fin uniformly pigmented ........................ Red Shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis

32a. Intestine forming single, flattened S-shaped loop
longitudinally (Fig. 26A); lining of body cavity silvery,
sometimes dusky, black only in Notropis boops ...................................................................... 33

32b. Intestine looped transversely (Fig. 26B) across body
cavity (only one loop crossing midline, anteriorly, in Pime-
phales notatus); lining of body cavity black ........................................................................... 49

33a. Anal rays usually eight ............................................................................................. 34

33b. Anal rays usually seven ............................................................................................... 43

34a. Lateral-line scales more than fifty; dorsal fin with
dark spot at origin; pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2 ...................... Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus

34b. Lateral-line scales fewer than 42; dorsal fin without
dark spot at origin; pharyngeal teeth never 2,5-4,2 ................................................................. 35

35a. Body compressed, lateral line decurved; greatest width
of body less than distance from crest of back to lateral line;
dorsal fin rounded, anterior rays extending approximately to
tips of posterior rays when fin is depressed against body ........................................................ 36

35b. Body terete, lateral line nearly straight; greatest width
of body about equal to distance from crest of back to lateral
line; dorsal fin pointed, anterior rays extending beyond tips
of posterior rays when fin is depressed against body ............................................................... 37

36a. Posterior membranes of dorsal fin more densely
pigmented than anterior membranes; lateral-line scales
usually more than 35; greatest depth of body 3.6-4.3 in
standard length; pharyngeal teeth 1,4-4,1 ............................. Spotfin Shiner, Cyprinella spiloptera

36b. Posterior membranes of dorsal fin not more densely
pigmented than anterior membranes; lateral-line scales
usually 35 or fewer; greatest depth of body 3.0-3.6 in
standard length; pharyngeal teeth usually 0,4-4,0 ......................... Red Shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis

37a. Mouth strongly oblique, upper and lower jaws equal
or the lower jaw protruding (Fig. 17A); lower lip pigmented ...................................................... 38

37b. Mouth scarcely oblique, lower jaw shorter than upper
jaw, closing within it (Fig. 17C); lower lip unpigmented ........................................................... 39

38a. Dorsal rays nine; lateral-line scales 36-40; pharyngeal
teeth 0,5-5,0; lining of body cavity silvery ....................... Pugnose Minnow, Opsopoeodus emiliae

38b. Dorsal rays eight; lateral-line scales 34-36; pharyngeal
teeth 1,4-4,1; lining of body cavity black ....................................... Bigeye Shiner, Notropis boops

39a. Eye diameter less than length of upper jaw; anterior
lateral-line scales not higher than scales in rows above and
below lateral line; circumferential scales 26 or more ............................................................... 40

39b. Eye diameter greater than length of upper jaw (Fig. 27);
anterior lateral-line scales higher than scales in rows above
and below lateral line; circumferential scales fewer than 26 ..................................................... 41

40a. Origin of dorsal fin nearer tip of snout than base of
caudal fin (Fig. 24A); eye diameter less than ¼ head length;
predorsal stripe faint or absent, small caudal spot present;
pharyngeal teeth 0,4-4,0 [Extirpated from Kansas?] ............ Arkansas River Shiner, Notropis girardi

40b. Origin of dorsal fin nearer base of caudal fin than rip
of snout (Fig. 24B); eye diameter greater than ¼ head
length; predorsal dark stripe well-developed, caudal spot
absent; pharyngeal teeth 1,4-4,1 .......................................... Bigmouth Shiner, Hybopsis dorsalis

41a. Dark lateral stripe intense, continuous around snout;
anterior lateral-line scales with chevron-like markings with
apices directed forward; snout length not less than eye
diameter ...................................................................... Blacknose Shiner, Notropis heterolepis

41b. Dark lateral stripe faint or absent; the height of anterior
lateral-line scales noticeably greater than their width, anterior
lateral-line scales lack chevron like markings; snout length
less than eye diameter ....................................................................................................... 42

42a. Dorsolateral scales outlined by dark pigment, upper
sides about as well- pigmented as dorsal surface; longest
ray in dorsal fin usually shorter than head length; infra-
orbital canal complete (Fig. 3C) ................................................ Mimic Shiner, Notropis volucellus

42b. Dorsolateral scales not outlined by dark pigment, upper
sides with an unpigmented space; longest ray in dorsal fin
longer than head length; infraorbital canal incomplete
(Fig. 3C) .............................................................................. Ghost Shiner, Notropis buchanani

43a. Lower lip thick, with prominent lobes at corners of
mouth (Fig. 18C) ................................................... Suckermouth Minnow, Phenacobius mirabilis

43b. Lower lip uniformly thin, without lobes at corners of
mouth .............................................................................................................................. 44

44a. Dorsal fin pointed at rip, unspotted; anterior fin rays
of dorsal extending to or beyond tips of posterior rays when
fin is depressed against body (Fig. 22A); lateral-line scales
32-37 ............................................................................................................................... 45

44b. Dorsal fin rounded, with anterior dark spot; anterior fin
rays of dorsal not extending to tips of posterior rays when fin
is depressed against body; (Fig. 22B) lateral-line scales 37-41 ................................................. 48

45a. Dark lateral band present, terminating in discrete
triangular caudal spot; length of caudal peduncle equal to
head length; mouth small, distance from front of mandible
to end of maxilla about distance from end of maxilla to
lower end of gill cleft (union of gill membrane to isthmus) ............. Topeka Shiner, Notropis topeka

45b. Dark lateral band absent; length of caudal peduncle
less than head length; mouth large, distance from front of
mandible to end of maxilla at least distance from end of
maxilla to lower end of gill cleft (union of gill membrane to
isthmus) ........................................................................................................................... 46

46a. Eye diameter less than snout length, 4.0 or more in
head length; nape appearing naked anteriorly (scales embe-
dded); pectoral fins falcate, first (unbranched) fin ray the
longest, tips of pectoral fin extending to base of pelvic fins
in males ............................................................................... Red River Shiner, Notropis bairdi

46b. Eye diameter about equal to snout length, 3.5-4.0 in
head length; nape fully scaled (scales not embedded behind
occiput); pectoral fins not falcate, second or third fin rays
the longest, not reaching base of pelvic fins when depressed
(either sex) ....................................................................................................................... 47

47a. Mid-dorsal stripe divided around base of dorsal fin,
not intensified within base (no black dash in base of dorsal);
lateral line not accented by melanophores; pharyngeal teeth
1 or 2,4-4,2 or 1 ....................................................................... River Shiner, Notropis blennius

47b. Mid-dorsal stripe not divided around base of dorsal fin,
intensified within base (black dash present in base of dorsal);
lateral line usually accented by melanophores; pharyngeal
teeth 0,4-4,0 ........................................................................ Sand Shiner, Notropis stramineus

48a. Dorsum not cross-hatched (pigment dispersed on
scales); spot at base of caudal fin wedge-shaped; dark
lateral stripe indistinct or absent; least depth of caudal
peduncle usually greater than ½ its length (body stout);
nuptial tubercles usually nine, in two rows ........................... Bullhead Minnow, Pimephales vigilax

48b. Dorsum cross-hatched (pigment concentrated along
margins of scales); spot at base of caudal fin vertically
elongate; dark lateral stripe well-defined; least depth of
caudal peduncle usually less than ½ its length (body slender);
nuptial tubercles usually 11-13, in three rows ............................ Slim Minnow, Pimephales tenellus

49a. Intestine wound spirally around air bladder; lower
jaw with hardened cartilaginous cutting edge (often conce-
aled, pry mouth open) and sub-marginal fold of thick skin
(Fig. 18D) ............................................................ Central Stoneroller, Campostoma anomalum

49b. Intestine with all its loops ventral to air bladder, never
completely encircling it; lower jaw not as above, its edge
sometimes thin and hard but without submarginal fold of skin .................................................. 50

50a. Lateral line incomplete; scales minute, 65-90 in
lateral-line row; origin of dorsal fin behind insertion of
pelvics; body with two dark lateral stripes; pharyngeal
teeth 0,5-5,0 ................................................. Southern Redbelly Dace, Phoxinus erythrogaster

50b. Lateral line usually complete; scales large, fewer than
fifty in lateral-line row; origin of dorsal fin not behind insertion
of pelvics; body not with two dark lateral stripes; pharyngeal
teeth 0,4-4,0 .................................................................................................................... 51

51a. Dorsal fin rounded, anterior rays not extending to
tips of posterior rays when fin is depressed against body
(Fig. 22B); lateral-line scales usually more than forty; anal
rays usually seven; breast naked (below pectoral fins) ............................................................ 52

51b. Dorsal fin triangular, anterior rays extending to tips
of posterior rays when fin is depressed against body (Fig. 22A);
lateral-line scales usually fewer than forty; anal rays usually
eight; breast scaled (below pectoral fins) .............................................................................. 53

52a. Scale rows around body 38 or more; caudal fin usually
lacking basal spot; intestine with several loops across body
cavity .......................................................................... Fathead Minnow, Pimephales promelas

52b. Scale rows around body 32 or fewer; caudal fin with
distinct black basal spot; loops of intestine few and mostly
longitudinal ................................................................. Bluntnose Minnow, Pimephales notatus

53a. Mouth narrowly U-shaped (Fig. 28A); eye diameter
more than ¼ head length, equal to snout length; pharyngeal
teeth hooked; lateral line outlined by dark dots ........................... Ozark Minnow, Notropis nubilus

53b. Mouth broadly crescentic (Fig. 28B); eye diameter
usually less than ¼ head length, less than snout length;
pharyngeal teeth not hooked; lateral line not outlined
by dark dots ...................................................................................................................... 54

54a. Dorsal fin rounded at rip; caudal fin uniformly pig-
mented (lower rudimentary rays pigmented); sides with a
brassy sheen in life, dusky lateral band usually evident ... Brassy Minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni

54b. Dorsal fin pointed at rip; caudal fin pale-edged ventrally
(lower rudimentary rays unpigmented); sides silvery in life,
no dusky lateral band ......................................................................................................... 55

55a. Ventral scale rows (below lateral-line series, crossing
in front of pelvic fins) usually 15-18; posterior process of
basioccipital bone rodlike (Fig. 29A) .................................... Plains Minnow, Hybognathus placitus

55b. Ventral scale rows (below lateral-line series, crossing
in front of pelvic fins) usually 12-14; posterior process of
basioccipital bone expanded (Fig. 29B) ................ Western Silvery Minnow, Hybognathus argyritis