Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Shorthead Redhorse – Moxostoma macrolepidotum – SC
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
CatostomidaeMoxostoma macrolepidotum(Lesueur)1817Shorthead Redhorse

Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Unique Characters: Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Head small, short. Scale bases dark. Pelvic rays modally 9; dorsal fin rays modally 13. Dorsal fin margin usually moderately concave, occasionally straight, slightly concave, or slightly falcate. Plicae on the lower lip are deeply divided posteriorly. Restricted to major Atlantic slope River drainage basins.

Moxostoma macrolepidotum Lips
Shorthead Redhorse – Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Moxostoma macrolepidotum pharyngeal teeth

Golden Redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum
(in Roanoke basin)

Notchlip Redhorse Moxostoma collapsum

V-lip Redhorse Moxostoma pappillosum

Moxostoma erythrurum
Golden Redhorse – Moxostoma erythrurum – male
Moxostoma erythrurum Lips
Golden Redhorse –
Moxostoma erythrurum Lips
Notchlip Redhorse –
Moxostoma collapsum
Notchlip Redhorse –
Moxostoma collapsum Lips
V-lip Redhorse –
Moxostoma pappillosum
V-lip Redhorse –
Moxostoma pappillosum Lips

Golden Redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum (in Roanoke basin). 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

Notchlip Redhorse Moxostoma collapsum. 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.

V-lip Redhorse Moxostoma pappillosum. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip V-shaped. Lower lip papillose, papillae rounded at edges, regularly arranged, small, and mostly subequal or equal in size. Front of upper lip papillose. Lower lip with smoothly curved posterior margin, not abruptly thinned at a point distinctly anterior to its juncture with upper lip. Dorsal fin margin of adults and large juveniles almost always slightly falcate or moderately concave. Caudal peduncle shallow.

“Brassy” Jumprock Moxostoma sp.

“Carolina” Redhorse Moxostoma sp. (in Cape Fear and Yadkin basins).

Robust Redhorse Moxostoma robustum

Moxostoma sp. Brassy Jumprock
Moxostoma sp. “Brassy” Jumprock
Moxostoma sp. Carolina Redhorse
Moxostoma sp. “Carolina” Redhorse
Moxostoma sp. Carolina Redhorse Lips
Moxostoma sp. “Carolina” Redhorse Lips
Moxostoma robustum
Robust Redhorse –
Moxostoma robustum
Moxostoma robustum lips
Robust Redhorse –
Moxostoma robustum Lips

“Brassy” Jumprock Moxostoma sp. Circumpeduncle scales modally 16. Lower lip with slight indentation, relatively straight.

“Carolina” Redhorse Moxostoma sp. (in Cape Fear and Yadkin basins). Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Head medium. Lower lip inverted and U-shaped; and markedly thinned at the margins. Lower lip plicate, plicae undissected or with shallow creases. Lateral line scales (43)44 or 45(46). Snout of breeding males with obvious, medium-sized nuptial tubercles. Caudal fin gray. Restricted to Yadkin and Cape Fear basins.

Robust Redhorse Moxostoma robustum. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Pharyngeal arch stout, lower teeth large, molariform. Lips plicate; large fleshy posterior edge of lower lip. Head medium or large. Scale bases dark. Upper body dominantly golden brown in life. Tail red. Breeding males with many nuptial tubercles on opercle. Currently restricted to Yadkin basin (Pee Dee River) downstream from Blewett Falls dam.

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