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California Fish Website Species
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Speckled Dace, Rhinichthys osculus
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Speckled dace, approximately 7 cm (3”) long. Date: 7/8/2007.
Speckled
dace, approximately 7 cm (3”) long, frontal view. Date: 7/8/2007.
Adult speckled dace.
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Appearance
and Identification:
· Small fish: usually less than 8
cm, sometimes more than 11 cm
· Usually 1 barbel
at the end of each jaw, and a frenum or flap of
skin attaching snout to upper lip
· Back and sides are dusky yellow
or olive, covered with dark speckles
and splotches
· Bases of fins turn red in both
sexes during breeding time, and males often get red snout and lips
· Fin Rays: dorsal 6-9 ( usually
located behind pelvic fins), anal 6-8
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Life History:
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Speckled dace are capable of living in an array of
habitats from small springs or streams to large rivers and deep lakes. Speckled dace prefer habitat that
includes clear, well oxygenated water, with movement due to a current or
waves. In addition the fish thrive
in areas with deep cover or overhead protection from vegetation or woody
debris. Speckled dace predominantly
occupy small streams of the second to third order where they feed and
forage for aquatic insects. The
species is very adaptable and is found in cold alpine lakes such as Lake Tahoe, but has also been able to survive
adversity in temperatures at or above 31°C with a dissolved oxygen
concentration of 1 mg/L. In streams
speckled dace swim along the bottom looking for small invertebrates while
in lakes they are opportunistic feeders that may feed on zooplankton,
algae, nymphs, or the resulting flying insects. Speckled dace typically have a life span
of three years, but may live 6 or more years, during which time females
typically grow more rapidly than males.
The fish become sexually mature in their second year and during the
summer months the dace spawn. Stream
dwellers spawn in riffles or gravely areas, while the lake inhabitants
spawn in tributaries or in shallow shoreline regions. The embryos hatch in 6 days, and the
larvae remain in the safety of the gravel for 7-8 days. The young fry then spend the early part
of their lives in the shallow warm areas of the stream or lake where they
hatched.
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Links to Other Research
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Here's a list of California
watersheds where Speckled
Dace may be found.
© 2003 - Regents of the University
of California
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Communication Services
E-Mail Web Master
ANR
Non-Discrimination Statement
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