Creek Chub or Horned Dace

Description:

Semotilus atromaculatus, known as the creek chub or the common creek chub, is a small minnow, a freshwater fish found in the eastern US and Canada. Differing in size and color depending on origin of development, the creek chub can usually be defined by a dark brown body with a white lateral line spanning horizontally across the body. It lives primarily within streams and river. The genus name Semotilus derives from the Greek word sema (also known as dorsal fin), and atromaculatus comes from the Latin word "black spots".

Habitat:

Inhabits rocky and sandy pools of headwaters, creeks and small rivers (Ref. 5723); mostly found in tiny, intermittent streams. Young feed on small aquatic invertebrates. Adults consume small fish, crayfish and other large invertebrates (Ref. 10294). One of the most common fishes in eastern North America