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Silver redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) — Catostomidae

Silver redhorse

Moxostoma anisurum
Family: Catostomidae
LC · Least Concern

The Silver redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) is a freshwater fish of the family Catostomidae that grows up to 74 cm.

Length
74 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The silver redhorse is a North American sucker of the family Catostomidae. The species grows to about 74 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with an inferior, fleshy sucking mouth. It inhabits pools and runs with mud to rock bottoms of small to large rivers and is occasionally found in lakes. With its sucking mouth it searches the bottom for insect larvae, small crustaceans and molluscs. Redhorses spawn in spring over gravel bottoms. The silver redhorse is locally fished and eaten and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Silver redhorse?

The Silver redhorse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Silver redhorse live?

The Silver redhorse lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Silver redhorse get?

The Silver redhorse grows to a maximum of about 74 cm. On average the species is around 33 cm.

Is the Silver redhorse dangerous to humans?

No, the Silver redhorse is harmless to humans.

Is the Silver redhorse edible?

The Silver redhorse is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zilveren paardenzuiger sourced
English name
Silver redhorse verified
Scientific name
Moxostoma anisurum
Family
Catostomidae
Other names
Silver redhorse; Silver mullet; White nose redhorse; White nosed mullet verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
74.0 verified
Average length (cm)
32.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
10.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Moxostoma

More from the family Catostomidae

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