Cutlips Minnow,  Exoglossum maxillingua

 
Physical Description: 
�	Chubby body, moderate body form
�	Dorsal fin origin usually behind pelvic fin base
�	Broadly rounded or slightly pointed snout, inferior mouth
�	Bumpy, semicircular upper lip
�	Lower jaw is hard and tonguelike, with two lobes 
�	Olive, brassy, or brown sides
�	Pale or yellowish paired fins
�	Tail and dorsal fins may have red-brown color

Similar species: 
�	Tonguetied minnow (Exoglossum laurae)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 65-130 mm standard length 

Habitat:
�	Large, clear, rocky creeks and rivers around cover 

Distribution in VA:
�	Atlantic slope drainages
�	Introduced into the New drainage

Food Habits:  
�	Feed on insect larvae, crayfish, worms, snails, and lamprey larvae 

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature around age 2 or 3 
�	Spawning occurs mid-May to mid-June at water temperatures of 18-20�C
�	Nests found in slow current under banks, logs, or around large rocks in slow water
�	Fecundity is about 345-1,177 eggs per female 

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Knocks the eyes out of other fish and may eat the eye when overcrowding occurs
�	May use its lower jaw as a shovel or to crush shells of mollusks

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. 

Goldfish Carp Grass Carp Silver Carp Golden Shiner Mtn. Redbelly Dace So. Redbelly Dace Rosyside Dace Longnose Dace Blacknose Dace Blacknose Dace Stoneroller Pearl Dace Fallfish Tonguetied Minnow Creek Chub Cutlips Minnow Bull Chub Bluehead Chub River Chub Slender Chub Streamline Chub Blotched Chub Kanawha Minnow Fatlips Minnow Stargazing Minnow Bigeye Chub Highback Chub Spotfin Chub Bigmouth Chub Whitetail Shiner Steelcolor Shiner Satinfin Shiner Spotfin Shiner Warpaint Shiner Crescent Shiner White Shiner Common Shiner Striped Shiner Mountain Shiner Rosefin Shiner Rosyface Shiner Tennessee Shiner Saffron Shiner Redlip Shiner Silver Shiner Popeye Shiner Telescope Shiner New River Shiner Sawfin Shiner Mirror Shiner Swallowtail Shiner Emerald Shiner Spottail Shiner Bridle Shiner Swallowtail Shiner Fieryblack Shiner Turquoise Shiner Fathead Minnow Fallfish Continue Browsing Families..... Petromyzontidae, Lampreys Polyodontidae, Paddlefish Acipenseridae, Sturgeons Lepisosteidae, Gars Amiidae, Bowfins Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes Ictaluridae, Catfish Percopsidae, Trout-Perches Salmonidae, Trouts Clupeidae, Herrings Esocidae, Pikes Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches Umbridae, Mudminnows Fundulidae, Killifishes Poeciliidae, Livebearers Cyprinidae, Minnows Catostomidae, Suckers Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks Atherinidae, Silversides Cottidae, Sculpins Sciaenidae, Drums Percidae, Perches Moronidae, Striped Basses Centrarchidae, Sunfishes