Moxostoma robustum

Moxostoma robustum
Robust Redhorse – Moxostoma robustum
Moxostoma robustum lips
Robust Redhorse – Moxostoma robustum Lips

Moxostoma robustum

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
CatostomidaeMoxostoma robustum(Cope)1870Robust Redhorse

Unique Characters: Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Pharyngeal arch stout, lower teeth large, molariform. Lips plicate; large fleshy lower lip that is expansive and prolonged medially and not indented at the corners. 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.

Moxstoma robustum
Moxstoma robustum pharyngeal teeth

Similar Species:

“Carolina” Redhorse
Moxostoma sp.

Shorthead Redhorse
Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Moxostoma sp. Carolina Redhorse
Moxostoma sp. “Carolina” Redhorse
Moxostoma sp. Carolina Redhorse Lips
Moxostoma sp. “Carolina” Redhorse Lips
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Shorthead Redhorse – Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Moxostoma macrolepidotum lips
Shorthead Redhorse – Moxostoma macrolepidotum Lips

“Carolina” Redhorse Moxostoma sp. 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.

Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum. 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. Restricted to major Atlantic slope River drainage basins.

Notchlip Redhorse Moxostoma collapsum

V-lip Redhorse
Moxostoma pappillosum

“Brassy” Jumprock Moxostoma sp.

Notchlip Redhorse –
Moxostoma collapsum
Notchlip Redhorse –
Moxostoma collapsum Lips
Moxostoma pappillosum
V-lip Redhorse – Moxostoma pappillosum
Moxostoma pappillosum lips
Moxostoma pappillosum Lips
Moxostoma sp. Brassy Jumprock
Moxostoma sp. Brassy Jumprock

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. Circumpeduncle scales modally 16. Lower lip with slight indentation, relatively straight.

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