Orthodon microlepidotus
Orthodon microlepidotus (Ayres, 1854)
Sacramento blackfish

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Laviniinae
Max. size:  55 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 5 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish
Distribution:  North America: Sacramento-San Joaquin, Pajaro and Salinas River drainages; Clear Lake in California, USA; also Russian River, where possibly introduced; introduced to Santa Ana River in California and Humboldt River system in Nevada.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11. Dorsal fin with 9-11 rays; dorsal-fin origin in front of pelvic-fin origin; 90-105 scales on lateral line; wide head, flat above; slightly upturned mouth; slender, compressed body; long narrow caudal peduncle; pharyngeal teeth 0,6-6,0 or 0,6-5,0; light to dark gray above, often olive sheen; silver side (Ref. 86798).
Biology:  Adults occur in lakes, backwaters and sluggish pools of small to large rivers. Usually found in warm turbid water (Ref. 86798). Migratory behaviour is undetermined (Ref. 126106).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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