Fallfish,  Semotilus corporalis

 
Physical Description: 
�	Slightly compressed body, moderate body form
�	Dorsal fin origin usually above anterior half of pelvic fin base
�	Medium-sized eye
�	Moderately rounded snout; slightly large mouth, almost inferior
�	Fully scaled or nearly fully scaled breast
�	Males get tubercles on front and side of snout over eye, lower cheek, and most fins
�	Silver-sided
�	Smudge at the anterior base of the dorsal fin
�	Dusky dorsal and tail fin edges

Similar species: 
�	Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 150-300 mm standard length 

Habitat:
�	Clear creeks and rivers of moderate and low gradient

Distribution in VA:
�	James, York, Rappahannock, and Potomac drainages
�	Introduced into the Roanoke drainage

Food Habits:  
�	Young feed on phytoplankton, zooplankton, and insects
�	Juveniles and adults eat insects, crayfish, fish, algae, and detritus

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature at age 2 or 3 
�	Spawning occurs late April to June at water temperatures of 14.4-19�C
�	Nests are dome-like mounds with a pit in the downstream part, built with gravel-sized stones, topped with small rubble
�	Fecundity is about 2,000-12,000 eggs per female 
�	Can naturally hybridize with Clinostomus funduloides and Luxilus cornutus

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Largest minnow east of the Rockies
�	Constructs the largest stone mound nests known 
�	Popular gamefish with some anglers
�	Varied opinions on the taste of the meat

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