European minnow
The European minnow, scientifically classified as *Phoxinus phoxinus*, is a small freshwater fish native to many waterways across Europe, extending into regions of Russia and Korea. Typically measuring between three to four inches (7 to 10 centimeters) long, they can grow up to six inches (15 centimeters) and are recognized for their distinctive coloration, which includes dark yellow-green scales on their backs and silvery bellies. Notably, European minnows can change color based on their mood; for instance, males develop bright red bellies and white bumps during spawning season, while they become nearly colorless when alarmed.
These minnows thrive in freshwater environments like fast-flowing rivers, clean ponds, and lakes, where they utilize their fins to navigate and maintain balance in the water. Their spawning season occurs between April and July, during which females can release up to 1,000 eggs that adhere to surfaces in their habitat. The fry, or young minnows, initially rely on their yolk sacs before transitioning to a diet of microorganisms, insects, and plant matter as they mature. Historically, European minnows have been consumed as food, including during medieval banquets, and are still caught for culinary purposes in some regions today. With a lifespan of approximately four to five years, they play an important role in their aquatic ecosystems.
On this Page
Subject Terms
European minnow
European minnows have the ability to change colors. During spawning season, the males' bellies turn red and they develop white bumps on their heads. When alarmed, they become almost colorless.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Leuciscidae
Genus: Phoxinus
Species: Phoxinus
As their name suggests, European minnows occupy most of Europe's waterways, extending into Russia and Korea. They inhabit freshwater, fast-flowing rivers, but also some clean ponds and lakes.
European minnows move through their freshwater homes using their many fins. They propel themselves through the water by swishing their caudal, or tail, fins and paddling their pectoral and pelvic, or side and upper belly fins. European minnows stay balanced in the water because of their steady dorsal and anal, or back and belly, fins. Their dorsal and anal fins each have three spines and several soft rays.
These small, freshwater fish usually have dark yellow-green scales on their backs and silvery scales on their bellies, but these colors change according to the fish's mood. When alarmed, they become pale. Their appearance is distinct among other minnows in their range with a black and gold stripe running from their eye to their tail. European minnows grow to about three to four inches (7 to 10 centimeters) long with a maximum of 5 1/2 to 6 inches (14 to 15 centimeters). Female European minnows may be much larger than males, especially during the spawning season when their bellies swell with eggs.
European minnows spawn between April and July. Schools, or large groups, of male and female European minnows mingle in the water before pairing off and swimming to the river bottom to spawn. They prefer to spawn in shallow, well-oxygenated water. A single female European minnow may release up to 1,000 eggs for a male to fertilize. These fertilized eggs stick to rocks in clumps and develop over a 5- to 10-day incubation period. An incubation period is the growth period between the eggs’ fertilization and hatching. The warmer the water, the shorter the incubation period.
Young European minnows, called fry, live off the yolk sacs attached to their stomachs for their first few days. As the minnows grow, they learn to find food for themselves. The average fry lives on a diet of microorganisms that float in the water until it is big enough to attack insects and worms. Eventually, these fry have grown enough to begin eating the diet of fully-grown European minnows.
As omnivores, or animals that eat meat and plants, European minnows feed on various aquatic, or water-living, animal and plant life. Their diets include freshwater shrimp, worms, insect larvae, flies, mosquitos, and algae.
European minnows were once caught for food in medieval Europe. They were even served as special treats at state banquets. They are still caught for food in some countries.
Like other fish, European minnows need oxygen to survive. They get the oxygen they need from the water in which they live. European minnows take water into their mouths, keep the oxygen they need, and filter the waste chemicals out through the gills on the sides of their bodies.
The life span of the European minnow is 4 to 5 years.
Bibliography
Baker, E., Tucker, J. Li., and A. Bartos. "Phoxinus Phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758)." NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, 28 Sept. 2022, nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatlakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species‗ID=3641&Potential=Y&Type=2. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024. "Eurasian Minnow (Phoxinus Phoxinus)." US Fish and Wildlife Service, Feb. 2019, www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Ecological-Risk-Screening-Summary-Eurasian-Minnow.pdf. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.