Species learning profile
Fathead minnow
Pimephales promelas
Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a freshwater fish associated with lake habitat in North America. Males guard eggs attached beneath rocks or other cover.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau douce
- Habitat
- Lac
- Longueur maximale
- 10 cm
- Répartition
- Amérique du Nord
- Famille
- Leuciscidae
- Ordre
- Cypriniformes
Observe
How to identify Fathead minnow
- Males guard eggs attached beneath rocks or other cover.
- Guide context: lake habitat in North America.
- Reported maximum length: 10 cm — about hand-length or smaller. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with lake habitat across North America. Temperature, oxygen, depth, and shoreline cover divide a lake into very different living zones.
Behavior
Thrives in still or slow, sometimes harsh water
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Algae, detritus, and small invertebrates.
Ecological role
A key small prey fish and scavenger.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Fathead minnow peut atteindre environ 10 cm et vit souvent près de Lac.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Healthy lake populations depend on suitable temperature and oxygen, clean spawning areas, and balanced harvest and food webs.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Fathead minnow in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections