The golden redhorse can be found in freshwater habitats across 25 different states in the eastern half of North America. There are populations located in the drainage basins of the Mississippi River, Ohio River, and the lower Missouri River. The fish can also be found in the Great Lakes, excluding Lake Superior, and the Lakes’ basin, as well as in the Lake of the Woods. The Mobile Bay drainage basin in the states of Alabama, Georgia, and southeastern Tennessee also contains the golden redhorse.[2]
In Mississippi there is an isolated population in the southwestern part of the state. Some suspect that it is a relict population, meaning the range of the fish was once much larger than it is today. They were introduced into the Potomac River in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, but the date of this introduction is unknown. A golden redhorse was seen in this river in 1953, but was never seen there again until 1971.[3]
In Canada, the golden redhorse is endemic to Manitoba and Ontario. The fish can be found in the Red River of the North, a river which eventually empties into Hudson Bay. Coincidentally, the Red River in Texas also houses the golden redhorse.[4]
Physical characteristicsEdit
Golden redhorses average around 12–18 inches (30–46 cm) long and weigh between 1–2 pounds (0.45–0.91 kg), although some can reach up to 26 inches (66 cm) and 4–5 pounds (1.8–2.3 kg). The golden scales decorating its sides gave the fish its name. They have olive colored backs, white bellies, and slate gray tail fins. Their body is fusiform in shape, allowing them to fight against currents in streams to capture their prey. The mouth of the fish is in the inferior position. The dorsal fin is slightly concave and the caudal fin is notched. It has a single anal fin and paired pelvic and pectoral fins. The pelvic fins are in the abdominal position, while the pectoral fins are located in more of a thoracic position. It has a lateral line system consisting of 39 to 42 scales which is used to detect movement and vibrations in the surrounding water.[5]
HabitatEdit
Golden redhorses can be found in freshwater streams, creeks, and rivers with varied substrates. In pools they are generally found over sand and silt. Occasionally they have been seen living in lakes or larger reservoirs that are fed by a stream or river. Compared to other redhorse species the golden redhorse is not very sensitive to poor environmental conditions.[5]
DietEdit
The diet of the golden redhorse consists of a variety of small, aquatic creatures. They consume larval insects, small mollusks, microcrustaceans, and other aquatic invertebrates. Like most other members of the sucker family, Catostomidae, detritus and algae are also staples of the golden redhorse's diet. It is a bottom-feeding species that is able to use its protrusible mouth to suck up food objects from the stream bed.[2]
Reproduction and life cycleEdit
The golden redhorse can live at least 17 years[6] and becomes sexually mature at age 3-5. They spawn in the spring once water temperatures are between 17-22 °C. When this occurs depends on the geographic location, but spawning usually happens at night during April or May. Spawning most often occurs in a runs or riffles within the main stream, but some individuals may move into smaller, more well protected tributaries. The spawning streams are gravel bottomed, as their benthic, bottom-dwelling young prefer to hide beneath the stones after they hatch from their adhesive eggs.[4]
Golden redhorses provide no parental care to their offspring. The young often form large schools and feed together along the stream bottom. Some schools may include a mixture of different redhorse species.[5]
Relationship with humansEdit
The golden redhorse is a game fish, and is being increasingly pursued by rod-and-line anglers.[7][8] The golden redhorse is also pursued by 21st century bowfishing that produces tons of wanton waste, where fish are targeted with bow and arrows at day or night in unregulated fashion.[6] For example in Minnesota, 21st century bowfishing redhorse waste, exclusively from tournaments, exceeds that of statewide commercial harvest by more than 200 times.[6] Modern regulation and management for species like golden redhorse are overdue.[6] For indirect anglers on rod-and-line, the golden redhorse is often caught by accident when anglers fish on the bottom for catfish. Fishing for members of the sucker family usually occurs in the early spring when the water temperature reaches 42 °F. Fishing several inches off the stream bottom with simple worms as bait is a good method to catch suckers. Gigging for suckers is another common practice. This is done using a multi-headed spear at night, often with a mounted light on the bow of the boat. The golden redhorse can be cooked, smoked or pickled.[9] The IGFA record for the species stands at 4 pounds 1 ounce (1.8 kg) caught from French Creek in Franklin, Pennsylvania in 1997.[10]
ReferencesEdit
^NatureServe (2015). "Moxostoma erythrurum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T202165A76571620. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-1.RLTS.T202165A76571620.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ ab"Comprehensive Report Species - Moxostoma erythrurum". NatureServe. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
^Fuller, Pam. "golden redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) - Fact Sheet". USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
^ ab"golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum". Biology Department at Texas State University. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
^ abc"Golden Redhorse". ODNR Division of Wildlife. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
^ abcdLackmann, Alec R.; Bielak-Lackmann, Ewelina S.; Jacobson, Reed I.; Andrews, Allen H.; Butler, Malcolm G.; Clark, Mark E. (2023-08-30). "Harvest trends, growth and longevity, and population dynamics reveal traditional assumptions for redhorse (Moxostoma spp.) management in Minnesota are not supported". Environmental Biology of Fishes. doi:10.1007/s10641-023-01460-8. ISSN 1573-5133.
^"Redhorse river: Fishing for St. Croix suckers offers serious sport". St. Croix 360. 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
^Winter, Tyler. "Trash Fish Tuesday: Redhorse". www.themeateater.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
^"Golden Redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum)". Lake Sidney Lanier, US Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
^"Redhorse, golden". igfa.org. International Game Fish Association. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
External linksEdit
NatureServe - Moxostoma erythrurum
October 21, 2023
golden, redhorse, golden, redhorse, moxostoma, erythrurum, species, freshwater, fish, endemic, ontario, manitoba, canada, midwestern, southern, eastern, united, states, lives, calm, often, silty, sandy, waters, streams, small, large, rivers, lakes, moxostoma, . The golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum is a species of freshwater fish endemic to Ontario and Manitoba in Canada and the Midwestern southern and eastern United States It lives in calm often silty or sandy waters in streams small to large rivers and lakes Golden redhorseGolden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum Conservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder CypriniformesFamily CatostomidaeGenus MoxostomaSpecies M erythrurumBinomial nameMoxostoma erythrurum Rafinesque 1818 SynonymsCatostomus erythrurus Rafinesque 1818A bottom feeder it feeds on microcrustaceans aquatic insects detritus algae and small mollusks The golden redhorse spawns in the spring Contents 1 Geographic distribution 2 Physical characteristics 3 Habitat 4 Diet 5 Reproduction and life cycle 6 Relationship with humans 7 References 8 External linksGeographic distribution EditThe golden redhorse can be found in freshwater habitats across 25 different states in the eastern half of North America There are populations located in the drainage basins of the Mississippi River Ohio River and the lower Missouri River The fish can also be found in the Great Lakes excluding Lake Superior and the Lakes basin as well as in the Lake of the Woods The Mobile Bay drainage basin in the states of Alabama Georgia and southeastern Tennessee also contains the golden redhorse 2 In Mississippi there is an isolated population in the southwestern part of the state Some suspect that it is a relict population meaning the range of the fish was once much larger than it is today They were introduced into the Potomac River in Maryland Virginia and West Virginia but the date of this introduction is unknown A golden redhorse was seen in this river in 1953 but was never seen there again until 1971 3 In Canada the golden redhorse is endemic to Manitoba and Ontario The fish can be found in the Red River of the North a river which eventually empties into Hudson Bay Coincidentally the Red River in Texas also houses the golden redhorse 4 Physical characteristics EditGolden redhorses average around 12 18 inches 30 46 cm long and weigh between 1 2 pounds 0 45 0 91 kg although some can reach up to 26 inches 66 cm and 4 5 pounds 1 8 2 3 kg The golden scales decorating its sides gave the fish its name They have olive colored backs white bellies and slate gray tail fins Their body is fusiform in shape allowing them to fight against currents in streams to capture their prey The mouth of the fish is in the inferior position The dorsal fin is slightly concave and the caudal fin is notched It has a single anal fin and paired pelvic and pectoral fins The pelvic fins are in the abdominal position while the pectoral fins are located in more of a thoracic position It has a lateral line system consisting of 39 to 42 scales which is used to detect movement and vibrations in the surrounding water 5 Habitat EditGolden redhorses can be found in freshwater streams creeks and rivers with varied substrates In pools they are generally found over sand and silt Occasionally they have been seen living in lakes or larger reservoirs that are fed by a stream or river Compared to other redhorse species the golden redhorse is not very sensitive to poor environmental conditions 5 Diet EditThe diet of the golden redhorse consists of a variety of small aquatic creatures They consume larval insects small mollusks microcrustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates Like most other members of the sucker family Catostomidae detritus and algae are also staples of the golden redhorse s diet It is a bottom feeding species that is able to use its protrusible mouth to suck up food objects from the stream bed 2 Reproduction and life cycle EditThe golden redhorse can live at least 17 years 6 and becomes sexually mature at age 3 5 They spawn in the spring once water temperatures are between 17 22 C When this occurs depends on the geographic location but spawning usually happens at night during April or May Spawning most often occurs in a runs or riffles within the main stream but some individuals may move into smaller more well protected tributaries The spawning streams are gravel bottomed as their benthic bottom dwelling young prefer to hide beneath the stones after they hatch from their adhesive eggs 4 Golden redhorses provide no parental care to their offspring The young often form large schools and feed together along the stream bottom Some schools may include a mixture of different redhorse species 5 Relationship with humans EditThe golden redhorse is a game fish and is being increasingly pursued by rod and line anglers 7 8 The golden redhorse is also pursued by 21st century bowfishing that produces tons of wanton waste where fish are targeted with bow and arrows at day or night in unregulated fashion 6 For example in Minnesota 21st century bowfishing redhorse waste exclusively from tournaments exceeds that of statewide commercial harvest by more than 200 times 6 Modern regulation and management for species like golden redhorse are overdue 6 For indirect anglers on rod and line the golden redhorse is often caught by accident when anglers fish on the bottom for catfish Fishing for members of the sucker family usually occurs in the early spring when the water temperature reaches 42 F Fishing several inches off the stream bottom with simple worms as bait is a good method to catch suckers Gigging for suckers is another common practice This is done using a multi headed spear at night often with a mounted light on the bow of the boat The golden redhorse can be cooked smoked or pickled 9 The IGFA record for the species stands at 4 pounds 1 ounce 1 8 kg caught from French Creek in Franklin Pennsylvania in 1997 10 References Edit NatureServe 2015 Moxostoma erythrurum IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T202165A76571620 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 1 RLTS T202165A76571620 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b Comprehensive Report Species Moxostoma erythrurum NatureServe Retrieved 3 May 2011 Fuller Pam golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum Fact Sheet USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database Retrieved 4 May 2011 a b golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum Biology Department at Texas State University Retrieved 4 May 2011 a b c Golden Redhorse ODNR Division of Wildlife Retrieved 4 May 2011 a b c d Lackmann Alec R Bielak Lackmann Ewelina S Jacobson Reed I Andrews Allen H Butler Malcolm G Clark Mark E 2023 08 30 Harvest trends growth and longevity and population dynamics reveal traditional assumptions for redhorse Moxostoma spp management in Minnesota are not supported Environmental Biology of Fishes doi 10 1007 s10641 023 01460 8 ISSN 1573 5133 Redhorse river Fishing for St Croix suckers offers serious sport St Croix 360 2020 05 14 Retrieved 2023 09 04 Winter Tyler Trash Fish Tuesday Redhorse www themeateater com Retrieved 2023 09 04 Golden Redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum Lake Sidney Lanier US Army Corps of Engineers Retrieved 5 May 2011 Redhorse golden igfa org International Game Fish Association Retrieved 17 May 2019 External links EditNatureServe Moxostoma erythrurum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Golden redhorse amp oldid 1173712404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
