Fallfish | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Subfamily: | Leuciscinae |
Genus: | Semotilus |
Species: | S. corporalis |
Binomial name | |
Semotilus corporalis (Mitchill, 1817) |
The fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) is a North American freshwater fish, a chub in the family Cyprinidae.
The fallfish is the largest northeast minnow, occasionally reaching 50 cm in length. Juvenile fallfish have a dark stripe that runs down the center of their body. They are a silvery shade on the top and sides of the body, but have a white shading on the belly. Breeding males develop a pinkish tone on the opercular region, although the species does not develop bright breeding colors. A typical size is 17 cm, but can grow to be up to 50 cm long.
It is found in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, where it inhabits clear streams, lakes, and ponds. It prefers swift currents predominately, however.