Help with Native ID

[JoshStover]

Could y’all help me ID this native West Virginia native fish? Our towns visitor center has set up a native tank with these and crayfish. They’re asking me what the fish is and I have no clue about natives. Thanks so much 

[DSH OUTDOORS]

Without knowing the collection point or length I'll take a shot in the dark.

Bigmouth Shiner, Notropis Dorsalis

[JoshStover]

I thought a put location. Sorry. New River Gorge area of Southern WV. They’re 2-3” long. 

[Biotope Biologist]

Eastern black nose dace Rhinichthys atratulus

 

I am native to the west coast but that sure looks like the daces we see here.

 

Could also be a bluntnose minnow but the head looks wrong to me Pimephales notatus.

Edited August 13, 2021 by Biotope Biologist
Bluntnose minnow

[L_goodei200]

My initial thought is juvenile creek chub

[lefty o]

looks like creek chub to me too.

[Biotope Biologist]

On 8/13/2021 at 9:59 PM, L_goodei200 said:

My initial thought is juvenile creek chub

It doesn't appear to have the black spot on the dorsal fin from which it derives it's latin name Semotilus atromaculatus. 

 

But jeez how many species on the east coast look downright identical. I feel bad for any limnology students with a dichotomous key and a preserved specimen collected 2 decades ago.

 

Source: MSU department of Agriculture

Edited August 14, 2021 by Biotope Biologist