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California Fish Website Species
Search
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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:
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Small fish: usually less than 8 cm, sometimes more than 11 cm
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Usually 1 barbel at the end of each jaw,
and a frenum or flap of skin attaching snout to
upper lip
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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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