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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mayfly Nymphs
- Crayfish
- Minnows
Predators
- Northern Pike
- Largemouth Bass
- Osprey
ThreatsSiltation, water pollution, and habitat fragmentation from dams
HabitatsClear, cool streams, rivers, and lake margins with gravelly or rocky substrates
Life span5 to 10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCyprinidae
- SpeciesSemotilus corporalis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Nest Associate Unknown / CC-BY · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) James St. John, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative "Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus" by brian.gratwicke is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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