Moxostoma carinatum

Moxostoma carinatum
River Redhorse – Moxostoma carinatum– Oconaluftee River
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
CatostomidaeMoxostoma carniatum(Cope)1870River Redhorse

Moxostoma carinatum

Unique Characters: 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.

Moxostoma carinatum
River Redhorse – Moxostoma carinatum
Photo Credit: Tim Aldridge
Moxostoma carinatum
Moxostoma carinatum pharyngeal teeth

Similar Species:

Black Redhorse
Moxostoma duquesnei

Golden Redhorse
Moxostoma erythrurum

Moxostoma duquesnei
Black Redhorse – Moxostoma duquesnei – Oconaluftee River
Moxostoma duquesnei
Black Redorse – Moxostoma duquesnei
Photo Credit: Tim Aldridge
Moxostoma erythrurum
Golden-Redhorse – Moxostoma erythrurum – male
Moxostoma erythrurum Lips
Moxostoma erythrurum Lips

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.

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.

Silver Redhorse
Moxostoma anisurum

“Sicklefin” Redhorse
Moxostoma sp.

Moxostoma anisurum
Silver Redhorse – Moxostoma anisurum – Oconaluftee River
Moxostoma anisurum
Silver Redhorse – Moxostoma anisurum
Photo Credit: Luke Etchison NCWRC
"Sicklefin" Redhorse
“Sicklefin” Redhorse – Moxostoma sp. – Oconaluftee River
Moxostoma sp. Sicklefin Redhorse Lips
Moxostoma sp. “Sicklefin” Redhorse Lips

Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum. 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.

Sicklefin” Redhorse Moxostoma sp. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Dorsal fin margin very falcate, the anterior tip when appressed exceeding the posterior tip, usually markedly.

Gallery