{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn | author = NatureServe | year = 2013 | title = ''Clinostomus elongatus'' | article-number = e.T202070A15364658 | doi =10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202070A15364658.en| access-date=2025-03-09}}</ref> | image = Clinostomus elongatus - Wilhelma 01.jpg | image_caption = ''Clinostomus elongatus'' | taxon = Clinostomus elongatus | display_parents = 3 | authority = (J. P. Kirtland, 1840) | synonyms = *''Luxilus elongatus'' <small>Kirtland, 1840</small> *''Squalius proriger'' <small>Cope, 1865</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = "Cof genus">{{Cof genus|genus=Clinostomus|access-date=9 March 2025}}</ref> }} thumb|Painting of a redside dace by Ellen Edmonson.
The '''redside dace''' ('''''Clinostomus elongatus''''') is a North American species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Leuciscidae.<ref name = "Cof genus"/> It is a surface-feeding specialist, thus acting as a conduit for nutrient transfers between terrestrial and aquatic environments.{{citation needed |date= May 2025}} This fish is also known as an indicator species as it is sensitive to environmental disturbances.
==Taxonomy== American naturalist Jared Potter Kirtland described the redside dace in 1840. The species name ''elongatus'' is Latin for "prolonged" or "elongated", referencing the distinctive head and mouth shape.<ref name=Etymology>{{Cite web |url=https://etyfish.org/pogonichthyinae/ |title=Family LEUCISCIDAE Subfamily POGONICHTHYINAE (American Minnows and Shiners) |website=The ETYFish Project |last=Scharpf |first=Christopher |date=2025-05-02 |access-date=2025-05-06 }}</ref>
==Description== The redside dace is brightly colored, with a wide red stripe extending from the head to the dorsal fin, running along the middle of the body.<ref name = "Becker 1983">{{cite book |last=Becker |first= George C. |date=1983 |title=Fishes of Wisconsin |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AWFIWUVZSK4EFH9B |location=Madison, Wisconsin |publisher=University of Wisconsin |pages=446–450 |isbn=978-0-299-08790-6 |access-date=2025-05-06 }}</ref> A bright yellow stripe generally extends from the head to caudal fin above the red lateral stripe. The back of this fish is generally dark, ranging from green to dark blue. Distinguishing it from other minnows, this species has a very large terminal mouth and protruding lower jaw, which is an effective adaptation for capturing prey from below.<ref name=COSEWIC />
The species' maximum total length is around {{cvt|120|mm}}<ref name="Page & Burr 2011">{{Cite book|title=Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico |date=2011 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0-547-24206-4 |editor-last=Page |editor-first=Lawrence M. |edition=2 |editor-last2=Burr |editor-first2=Brooks M. }}</ref> but {{cvt|65|mm}} is the average of adults.<ref name = "Becker 1983"/> Age estimation with scales suggests that redside dace do not live over four years.<ref name = "Becker 1983"/> Within their first year of life, redside dace may attain a length of {{cvt|31–48|mm}} by late summer.
The redside dace is similar in appearance to the rosyside dace (''Clinostomus funduloides''), however the redside dace has a longer and more slender body with brighter red coloration on its sides.<ref>{{FishBase|genus=Clinostomus|species=elongatus|year=2008 |month=01 }}</ref> The two species are also allopatric.<ref name = "Page & Burr 2011"/>
==Distribution== ===United States=== Redside dace are most abundant in Pennsylvania, especially in the upper parts of the Susquehanna River drainage.<ref name="RS">{{cite web | title = Recovery Strategy for Redside Dace in Ontario 2005 – 2009 | publisher = Redside Dace Recovery Team | url = http://www.elgar.ca/creekbank/New%20Redside%20Dace%20Recovery%20Strategy%20-%20January%2031%202005.pdf | date =2005-01-31 | access-date = 2008-01-31}}</ref> It is also found in some tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes, as well as in the Ohio River drainage and the upper parts of the Mississippi River drainage.<ref name="COSEWIC">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_clinostomus_elongatus_e.pdf |title=COSEWIC Assessment and Status Update Report on the Redside Dace |date=2007 |access-date=2025-05-06 }}</ref> Scattered populations exist in the states of Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.<ref name = "Page & Burr 2011"/>
thumb|Captive redside dace held in a private aquarium.
===Canada=== The distribution of redside dace is mainly limited to southern Ontario with the Two Tree River on St. Joseph Island as an exception.<ref name=RS /> Most populations have been identified in streams draining into the western portion of Lake Ontario, from Pringle Creek near Oshawa to Spencer Creek near Hamilton.<ref name="COSEWIC"/> Smaller populations exist in the drainages of Lake Simcoe (such as the Holland River system), Lake Erie (Irvine Creek), Berczy Creek in Markham and Lake Huron (Saugeen River system).
==Habitat== The species favours slow-moving, cool, and clear headwaters of river systems, with copious overhanging riparian vegetation, especially grasses, forbs, and low shrubs. A preferred stream features a succession of riffles, necessary for spawning, and pools, inhabited outside the breeding season.<ref name = "MSU">{{cite web |author-first = Reuben Ratterree|author-last = Goforth |year = 2000 | title = Special Animal Abstract for Clinostomus elongatus (redside dace)| publisher = Michigan State University| url = https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/abstracts/zoology/Clinostomus_elongatus.pdf |website = Michigan Natural Features Inventory |access-date = 2025-05-06 }}</ref>
==Diet== The redside dace is a midwater and surface specialist, regularly consuming terrestrial insects representing families of Empididae and Formicidae and aquatic insects of Chironomidae and order Ephemeroptera.<ref name = "Becker 1983"/><ref name="COSEWIC"/><ref name = "Daniels 1994">{{cite journal |last1=Daniels |first1=R. A. |last2=Wisniewski |first2=S. J. |date=1994 |title=Feeding ecology of redside dace, Clinostomus elongatus |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0633.1994.tb00020.x |journal=Ecology of Freshwater Fish |volume=3 |issue= 4|pages=176–183 |doi= 10.1111/j.1600-0633.1994.tb00020.x|bibcode=1994EcoFF...3..176D |access-date= 2025-05-06 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==Reproduction== [[File:Clinostomus elongatus 39762687.jpg|left|thumb|Redside dace and southern redbelly dace (''Chrosomus erythrogaster'') spawning on a gravel nest in Hocking County, Ohio.]] Redside dace will opportunistically spawn over gravel nests called ''chub mounds'' built by creek chub (''Semotilus atromaculatus''), hornyhead chubs (''Nocomis'' spp.) or stonerollers (''Campostoma'' spp.). Spawning generally occurs in spring but the exact timing depends on location (or more specifically, latitude and climate) when water temperatures are at or near {{cvt|18|C}}.<ref name = "Becker 1983"/> During this time, males will leave pool habitat and begin staging near spawning gravel. Before spawning, males will engage in territorial displays and courtship behaviors. The act of spawning consists of multiple males gathering around a female, where both fish emit gametes simultaneously. The fertilized eggs are non-adhesive and remain in the nest, receiving no further parental care.<ref name="COSEWIC"/>
==Management== Although globally secure with locally abundant populations, the redside dace has declined in many areas of its range; some populations have been extirpated.<ref name = "Becker 1983"/><ref name = "COSEWIC"/> The redside dace is listed as endangered in Indiana<ref name = "INDNR">{{cite web |year = 2025 | title = Indiana Species of Greatest Conservation Need | publisher = Indiana Department of Natural Resources | url = https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/nongame-and-endangered-wildlife/species-of-greatest-conservation-need/#fishes-en |website = Indiana.gov |access-date = 2025-05-08 }}</ref> and Ontario,<ref name = "COSEWIC"/> as threatened in Michigan,<ref name = "MIDNR">{{cite web |year = 2025 | title = Threatened and endangered species list | publisher = Michigan Department of Natural Resources | url = https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-permits/threatened-endangered-species/threatened-and-endangered-species-list |website = Michigan.gov |access-date = 2025-05-08 }}</ref> and as special concern in Wisconsin.<ref name = "WIDNR">{{cite web |year = 2021 |title = Wisconsin Endangered and Threatened Species Laws & List | publisher = Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | url = https://p.widencdn.net/byxof6/ER001 |website = Wisconsin.gov |access-date = 2025-05-08 }}</ref> Declines in redside dace are largely attributed to habitat destruction, more specifically deforestation, urbanization, and water pollution.<ref name = "Becker 1983"/><ref name ="COSEWIC"/> Due to its intolerance for modified habitat, they could be considered an indicator species.<ref name = "COSEWIC"/> Redside dace have limited use by humans but are occasionally kept in aquaria due to its stunning appearance.
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q3499950}}
Category:Clinostomus Category:Taxa named by Jared Potter Kirtland Category:Fish described in 1840 Category:Freshwater fish of North America