Moxostoma anisurum

Moxostoma anisurum
Silver Redhorse – Moxostoma anisurum – Oconaluftee River
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
CatostomidaeMoxostoma anisurum(Rafinesque)1820Silver Redhorse

Moxostoma anisurum

Unique Characters: Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip V-shaped, semi-papillose; its fine ridges (plicae) deeply, transversely, and somewhat irregularly dissected. Front of upper lip usually smooth, papillae absent. Lower lip usually abruptly thinned at a point distinctly anterior to it juncture with upper lip. Restricted to Tennessee River drainage basins.

Moxostoma anisurum
Silver Redhorse – Moxostoma anisurum
Photo Credit: Luke Etchison NCWRC
Moxostoma anisurum
Silver Redhorse-Moxostoma anisurum

Similar Species:

Golden Redhorse
Moxostoma erythrurum

Black Redhorse
Moxostoma duquesnei

River Redhorse
Moxostoma carinatum

Moxostoma erythrurum
Golden Redhorse – Moxostoma erythrurum – male
Moxostoma erythrurum Lips
Moxostoma erythrurum Lips
Moxostoma duquesnei
Black Redhorse – Moxostoma duquesnei – Oconaluftee River
Moxostoma duquesnei
Black Redorse – Moxostoma duquesnei Photo Credit: Tim Aldridge
Moxostoma carinatum
River Redhorse – Moxostoma carinatum – Oconaluftee River
Moxostoma carinatum
River Redhorse – Moxostoma carinatum Photo Credit: Luke Etchison NCWRC

Golden Redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip plicate, plicae undissected or with shallow creases. Head medium. Lateral line scales (37)39-43(45). Breast usually full scaled, anteromedial breast scales slightly or moderately smaller than anterior belly scales. Angle of posterior edge of lower lip 90-130(155)°. Snout of breeding males with obvious, medium-sized nuptial tubercles. Restricted to Roanoke and Tennessee River drainage basins.

Black Redhorse Moxostoma duquesnei. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip plicate, plicae undissected or with shallow creases. Head medium. Lateral line scales (43)44-48(51). Breast usually with a small scaleless area anteromedial; anteromedial breast scales much smaller than anterior belly scales; breast scales embedded. Angle of posterior edge of lower lip (95)120-160(175)°. Snout of breeding males with minute or no nuptial tubercles. Restricted to Tennessee River drainage basins.

River Redhorse Moxostoma carinatum. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Pharyngeal arch stout, lower teeth large, molariform. Lips plicate. Head medium or large. Scale bases dark. Upper body dominantly brassy, coppery, or olive in life. Tail red. Snout of breeding males with obvious medium-sized nuptial tubercles. Restricted to Tennessee River drainage basins.

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