Fish · GBIF taxon 2360492
Fallfish
Semotilus corporalisAlso known as Corporal, Chub, Windfish, Silver Chub
Fallfish are the largest native minnows in eastern North America, sporting bright silvery scales that flash in clean, fast-flowing streams. During the spring spawning season, industrious males build massive stone nests by carrying pebbles in their mouths, sometimes creating mounds up to six feet wide. These impressive underwater structures serve as communal spawning hubs for several other stream-dwelling fish species.
FreshwaterNest-BuilderNative-Fish
- diet
- Aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, small crustaceans, and small fish
- family
- Cyprinidae
- threats
- Siltation, water pollution, and habitat fragmentation from dams
- life Span
- 5 to 10 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Polarized Sunglasses: Use polarized lenses to spot their silvery flashes in shallow riffles.
- Nest Spotting: Look for large, clean mounds of gravel in streams during late spring.
- Gentle Handling: Wet your hands before handling to protect their delicate slime coat.