Mylocheilus caurinus
Identification Tips:
• Small mouth, with small barbels at corner of jaws.
• Deeply forked tail.
• Bright red lips and flanks during spawning season.
• Dorsal fin originates ahead of pelvic fins and is entirely ahead of anal fin.
• Adults usually have two dark banks on the flanks, but may be entirely silvery.
Conservation Status:
| British Columbia | Canada | Natureserve | |
| COSEWIC | Species at Risk Act | ||
| Not at Risk (Yellow List) | Not Assessed | None | G5, S5 |
Information Source: BC Conservation Data Centre: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/
Life History:
• Feed mainly on aquatic insects and larvae; but also on small crustaceans, mollusks, and small fishes.
• Preyed upon by fish-eating birds and mammals
• Adults form schools
• Matures in 3rd or 4th year and may live almost 20 years.
• Maximum size 25 - 30 cm
Habitat:
• Found in lakes and slow-flowing areas of rivers.
• Most common around vegetation.
• Newly hatched individuals school near the shore, moving into deeper water in the summer.
Range:
British Columbia
• Throughout Fraser, Columbia, Nass and Peace River drainages
• In several Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast lakes and streams.
Global
• British Columbia south to Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington
Comments:
• May hybridize with Redside Shiner and occasionally with Northern Pikeminnow
• Unlike other members of the minnow family, Peamouth can withstand brackish waters for a limited period, accounting for their presence in Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast waters.
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Primary Information Source:
McPhail, J.D. 2007. The Freshwater Fishes of British Columbia. University of Alberta Press. Edmonton, Alberta.
