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Peamouth
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| Peamouth © Howard
Horton Courtesy of eNature |
Species
description provided by eNature
Description
Description To 14" (36 cm). Elongate, somewhat compressed;
back olive-brown; lighter below with dark lateral stripe from near
top of head to caudal fin base, and sometimes another from middle
of opercle to near anal fin origin. Head about one-fifth of length.
Mouth small; barbel present at each corner of jaw; upper jaw protractile,
no frenum. Pelvic axillary scales well developed; caudal fin deeply
forked. Lateral line complete, 68-79 scales.
Habitat
Lakes, slow-flowing rivers in deeper water; brackish water
at river mouths.
Range
N. British Columbia, Vancouver Island and other islands
off British Columbia, south to NW. Montana, SW. Idaho, and N. Oregon.
Discussion
The peamouth is one of the few cyprinids that tolerate
salt water. A schooling fish, it feeds on aquatic insects and crustaceans
at midwater and on the bottom. It lives about 13 years, unusually
long for a minnow.
