Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Catostomidae	Moxostoma macrolepidotum	(Lesueur)	1817	Shorthead Redhorse

Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Unique Characters: Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip subplicate with deep transverse grooves. 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 (Hogue et al. 2026)

Moxostoma macrolepidotum - Shorthead Redhorse - pharyngeal teeth — Moxostoma macrolepidotum – Shorthead Redhorse – pharyngeal teeth

Similar Species:

Carolina Redhorse, Moxostoma carolina

Moxostoma carolina, Carolina Redhorse, - Little River at Capelsie, NC, May 11, 2005. — Moxostoma carolina, Carolina Redhorse, – Little River at Capelsie, NC, May 11, 2005.

Moxostoma carolina, Carolina Redhorse, lips, NCSM 41138.

Moxostoma carolina, Carolina Redhorse. pharyngeal teeth NCSM 39873

Carolina Redhorse, Moxostoma carolina. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip plicate. Lower lip V- or U-shaped. Supratemporal canal usually interrupted medially. Lateral-line scales modally 45 (range 43–47). Breast scales modally 100% (50-100%) embedded. Range restricted to middle Cape Fear River and lower Yadkin-Pee Dee basin (Hogue et al. 2026).

Golden Redhorse, Moxostoma erythrurum (in Roanoke basin only along Atlantic slope)

Moxostoma erythrurum - Golden Redhorse - male - Oconaluftee River — Moxostoma erythrurum – Golden Redhorse – male – Oconaluftee River (Mississippi River drainage)

Moxostoma erythrurum, Golden Redhorse, lips, NCSM 36684.

Golden Redhorse, Moxostoma erythrurum. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip plicate. Lower lip V- or U-shaped. Supratemporal canal not interrupted medially. Lateral-line scales modally 42 (range 39–45). Breast scales not embedded. Along the Atlantic slope range is restricted from Potomac basin in Maryland and Virginia south to Roanoke basin (Hogue et al. 2026).

Robust Redhorse, Moxostoma robustum

Moxostoma robustum - Robust Redhorse - male — Moxostoma robustum – Robust Redhorse – male

Moxostoma robustum, Robust Redhorse, lips, NCSM 30516.

Moxstoma robustum - Pharyngeal Teeth, NCSM 23865 — Moxstoma robustum – Pharyngeal Teeth, NCSM 23865

Robust Redhorse, Moxostoma robustum. Circumpeduncle scales modally 12. Lower lip plicate. Lower lip not V- or U-shaped, almost completely straight with midposterior fleshy extension. Currently restricted to Yadkin basin (Pee Dee River) downstream from Blewett Falls dam (Hogue et al. 2026).

“Brassy” Jumprock, Moxostoma sp.

Moxostoma sp. "Brassy" Jumprock - Photo Credit: Cody Cromer — Moxostoma sp. “Brassy” Jumprock –
Photo Credit: Cody Cromer

Moxostoma sp. "Brassy" Jumprock - juvenile — Moxostoma sp. “Brassy” Jumprock – juvenile

Moxostoma sp., "Brassy" Jumprock, lips, NCSM 26929. — Moxostoma sp., “Brassy” Jumprock, lips, NCSM 26929.

Moxostoma sp. "Brassy" Jumprock - pharyngeal teeth - NCSM 45848 — Moxostoma sp. “Brassy” Jumprock – pharyngeal teeth – NCSM 45848

“Brassy” Jumprock, Moxostoma sp. Circumpeduncle scales modally 16 (range 15-17).

Reference:

Hogue, G.M., B.H. Tracy, J.A. Raine, and L.C. Hughes. 2026. Carolina Redhorse – a new species of Moxostoma (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from North Carolina and South Carolina, USA. Zootaxa 5763 (4):501-528. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.4.3.

Gallery

Moxostoma macrolepidotum, Shorthead Redhorse. Photo credit: Tim Aldridge.