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💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Subtropical

Lake minnow

Rhynchocypris percnurus Pallas, 1814
Lake Minnow (Rhynchocypris percnurus)
Lake Minnow (Rhynchocypris percnurus)
Max Length
18.5 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.2
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Typical Length
9 cm
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Adults inhabit small lakes, shallow or isolated small bays of larger lakes, swamps, artificial ponds, with abundant vegetation, turbid water, with mud or clay bottom. They prefer to live in still water or slow current. Commonly found in shallows among vegetation in schools of 20-89 individuals. Can survive extreme low oxygen concentrations in summer and winter. Hibernate (in northern regions) during winter or remain inactive at temperatures close to 0°C. Feed on a wide variety of prey, from plankton to benthic animals. Globally not under threat, but some isolated relict populations in Middle Volga and Poland have already been extirpated, are declining or threatened. Several of these populations may possibly represent a distinct species, which, if confirmed, will significantly change the present conservation assessment .

Scientific Name
Rhynchocypris percnurus
Authority
Pallas, 1814
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
18.5 cm
Trophic Level
3.2
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Water Temp
15–23 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Can be separated from Rhynchocypris czekanowskii by having male genital papilla not long and pointed, and body depth greater than or equal to caudal peduncle length .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Lake minnow is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Lake minnow is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Embryonic development lasts 10-15 days .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory. Subtropical; 15°C - 23°C ; 75°N - 35°N, 35°E - 175°E Widespread but highly disjunct range: lakes in Odra, Vistula, Dniepr, Volga (Oka and Kama systems) drainages, isolated localities in Middle Volga, lakes in Arctic Ocean (from Nothern Dvina to Kolyma drainages) and Pacific basins (from Amur to Korea and Japan).

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.2±0.39
🐠 Schooling
Food Items

a wide variety of prey, from plankton to benthic animals

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
18.5cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
15–23°C
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
36.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.2
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Pallas, 1814

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Lake minnow is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Lake minnow is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Lake minnow has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Lake Minnow · swamp minnow
🌍BEL Гальян азёрны
🌍LIT Ežerinė rainė
🇵🇱Polish Strzebla błotna
🇷🇺Russian Озёрный гольян
🌍UKR Мересниця озерна

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Cyprinus percnurus Pallas 1814 Synonym
Cyprinus perenurus Pallas 1814 Synonym
Eupallasella percnurus Pallas 1814 Synonym
Eupallasella perenurus Pallas 1814 Synonym
Leucaspius fischeri Sabanyeev 1872 Synonym
Leuciscus dauricus Valenciennes 1844 Synonym
Morocco percnurus Pallas 1814 Synonym
Moroco percnurus Pallas 1814 Synonym
Moroco percnurus sachalinensis Berg 1907 Synonym
Phoxinus altus Warpachowski 1887 Synonym
Phoxinus crucifer Gratzianov 1907 Synonym
Phoxinus czekanowskii posnaniensis Berg 1932 Synonym
Phoxinus dybowskii Lorec & Wolski 1910 Synonym
Phoxinus jelskii Dybowski 1869 Synonym
Phoxinus laevis punctatus Benecke 1881 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus Pallas 1814 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus dauricus Dybowski 1877 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus gdaniensis Berg 1932 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus mantschuricus Berg 1907 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus occidentalis Kaj 1954 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus posnaniensis Berg 1932 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus sachalinensis Berg 1907 Synonym
Phoxinus percnurus sarykul Ruzsky 1926 Synonym
Phoxinus perenurus Pallas 1814 Homotypic
Phoxinus perenurus dauricus Dybowski 1877 Synonym
Phoxinus perenurus mantschuricus Berg 1907 Synonym
Phoxinus sabanejewi Warpachowski 1887 Synonym
Phoxinus stagnalis Warpachowski 1886 Synonym
Phoxinus variabilis Warpachowski 1887 Synonym
Rhynchocypris sachalinensis Berg 1907 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 9 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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