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Home/Species/ Western Blacknose Dace

Rhinichthys obtusus

Agassiz, 1854

Western Blacknose Dace

G5Secure Found in 21 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.790464
Element CodeAFCJB37160
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyLeuciscidae
GenusRhinichthys
Concept Reference
Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Kraczkowski and Chernoff (2014) analyzed two mitochondrial genes and nine microsatellite loci from specimens encompassing the entire geographic range of Rhinichthys atratulus sensu lato. The results show that R. atratulus and R. obtusus are monophyletic, with large, consistent genetic differences. This split is accepted by Page et al. (2023).

On advice of R. E. Jenkins, Nelson et al. (2004) split the blacknose dace into two species, R. atratulus (eastern blacknose dace, primarily in Atlantic Slope drainages) and R. obtusus (western blacknose dace, remainder of range).

Not all ichthyologists accept this split but prefer to maintain atratulus and obtusus as conspecific (e.g., Page and Burr 2011). Based on morphological data for populations in Canada, Fraser et al. (2005) could not distinguish the western and eastern species. In contrast, Smith (2007) readily distinguished the two in West Virginia, based on morphology and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2015-08-17
Change Date2009-06-09
Edition Date2009-06-10
Range Extent Comments
Range encompasses the upper Mississippi, Ohio, and Great Lakes drainages, from south-central Canada to northern Alabama and Georgia and east to eastern Lake Erie.
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of subpopulations and locations.
Threat Impact Comments
Localized threats may exist, but on a range-wide scale no major threats are known.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat includes rocky runs and pools of headwaters, creeks, and small rivers (Page and Burr 2011).
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IllinoisS3Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
VirginiaSNRYes
MississippiS1Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
West VirginiaSNRYes
MichiganS5Yes
South CarolinaS2Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
KentuckyS4Yes
MissouriSNRYes
IowaS5Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
AlabamaS5Yes
New YorkSNRYes
WisconsinS4Yes
GeorgiaS4Yes
OhioS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
NebraskaS3Yes
KansasS1Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
ManitobaS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
SaskatchewanS3Yes
Roadless Areas (21)
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Minnesota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Brule Lake - Eagle MountainSuperior National Forest12,380
North Carolina (7)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Slide HollowPisgah National Forest193
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
SheyenneDakota Prairie Grasslands14,537
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Virginia (5)
AreaForestAcres
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
Peters Mountain Addition A (VA)Jefferson National Forest1,268
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
West Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Peters Mountain Addition A (WV)Jefferson National Forest343
References (28)
  1. Becker, G. C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 1,052 pp.
  2. Boschung, H. T., and R. L. Mayden. 2004. Fishes of Alabama. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 960 pp.
  3. Burr, B. M., and M. L. Warren, Jr. 1986a. Distributional atlas of Kentucky fishes. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Scientific and Technical Series No. 4, Frankfort, Kentucky. 398 pp.
  4. Burr, Brooks M. (Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University) and Donovan B. Henry. 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. June 2000.
  5. Cooper, E. L. 1983. Fishes of Pennsylvania and the northeastern United States. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park. 243 pp.
  6. Cross, F. B., and J. T. Collins. 1995. Fishes in Kansas. Second Edition, revised. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. xvii + 315 pp.
  7. Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. xiv + 681 pp.
  8. Fago, D. 2000. Relative abundance and distribution of fishes in Wisconsin. Fish Distribution Database to year 2000. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  9. Fraser, B. A., N. E. Mandrak, and R. L. McLaughlin. 2005. Lack of morphological differentiation in eastern (<i>Rhinichthys atratulus</i>) and western (<i>Rhinichthys obtusus</i>) blacknose dace in Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology 83(11):1502-1509.
  10. Harlan, J. R., E. B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.
  11. Jenkins, R. E., and N. M. Burkhead. 1994. Freshwater fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. xxiii + 1079 pp.
  12. Kraczkowski, M. L. and B. Chernoff.  2014. Molecular phylogenetics of the eastern and western blacknose dace, <i>Rhinichthys atratulus</i> and <i>R. obtusus</i> (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Copeia 2014(2): 325-338.
  13. Lang, Nicholas (Illinois Natural History Survey). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.
  14. Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
  15. Menhinick, E. F. 1991. The freshwater fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 227 pp.
  16. Mettee, Maurice. F. "Scott" (Icthyologist, Geological Survey of Alabama). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, TNC. April 2000.
  17. Mettee, M. F., P. E. O'Neil, and J. M. Pierson. 1996. Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Oxmoor House, Birmingham, Alabama. 820 pp.
  18. Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
  19. Owen, J. B., D. S. Elsen and G. W. Russell. 1981. Distribution of fishes in North and South Dakota basins affected by the Garrison Diversion Unit. University of North Dakota Press, Grand Forks, North Dakota. 211 pp.
  20. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  21. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  22. Ross, S. T., and W. M. Brenneman. 1991. Distribution of freshwater fishes in Mississippi. Freshwater Fisheries Report No. 108. D-J Project Completion Report F-69. Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and Parks. Jackson, Mississippi. 548 pp.
  23. Smith, C. L. 1983. Fishes of New York (maps and printout of a draft section on scarce fishes of New York). Unpublished draft.
  24. Smith, G. D. 2007. Morphological and molecular analyses of the blacknose dace species complex (genus <i>Rhinichthys</i>) in a large zone of contact in West Virginia. M.S. thesis, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.
  25. Smith, P. W. 1979. The fishes of Illinois. University of Illinois Press, Urbana. 314 pp.
  26. Stauffer, J. R., Jr., J. M. Boltz, and L. R. White. 1995. The fishes of West Virginia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 146:1-389.
  27. Suttkus, R., and M. Mettee. 2001. Analysis of four species of <i>Notropis </i>included in the subgenus of <i>Pteronotropis </i>Fowler, with comments on relationships, origin, and dispersion. Geological Survey of Alabama Bulletin No. 170. 50 pp.
  28. Trautman, M. B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Second edition. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, Ohio. 782 pp.