Ptychocheilus grandis (Ayres, 1854)
Sacramento pikeminnow
photo by IGFA

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Laviniinae
Max. size:  140 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 9 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: Sacramento-San Joaquin, Pajaro-Salinas, Russian, and Clear Lake drainages in California, USA. Introduced elsewhere in California, including Eel River and tributaries to Morro Bay.
Diagnosis:  Anal soft rays: 8-8. Dorsal fin usually with 8 rays; anal fin with 8 rays; 38-44 scales on back from head to dorsal fin; 65-78, usually 67-75, scales on lateral line; and 12-15 scales above lateral line (Ref. 86798).
Biology:  Inhabits rocky and sandy pools and runs of small to large rivers. Usually found in clear, warm streams (Ref. 5723). Voracious minnow with pike-like habits. Small pikeminnows (less than or equal to 7 cm SL) are found in shallow water with cover and lower velocities. The microhabitat use of these juveniles is controlled by the presence of large pikeminnows which connotes intraspecific predation. The microhabitat shift is observed to be significantly influenced by the presence rather than the number of large pikeminnows in the area (Ref. 55069).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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