Key Characteristics:
- Large eye
- 29-35 preanal myomeres
- 16+ postanal myomeres
- Postanal pigmentation profuse, 24>postanal myomeres
![Caption](https://blog.uwgb.edu/ais/files/2018/05/p0000.jpg)
Larval Mooneye. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.
![Caption](https://blog.uwgb.edu/ais/files/2018/05/p00011.jpg)
Larval Mooneye. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.
![Caption](https://blog.uwgb.edu/ais/files/2018/05/p0006.jpg)
Larval Mooneye. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.
![Caption](https://blog.uwgb.edu/ais/files/2018/05/p0008.jpg)
Larval Mooneye. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.
- Body not elongated, eel-shaped, round in transverse section, uniformly pigmented (1B)
- Chin barbels absent (3B)
- Snout short, its length usually less than 10% TL; median fins otherwise (5B)
- Median fins or finfolds showing distinct separation (7B)
- No adipose fin, or demarcation of one, in finfold (10B)
- Preanal myomeres greater than or equal to postanal myomeres (14A)
- Preanal myomeres significantly greater than postanal myomeres (difference greater than five myomeres) (15B)
- Postanal myomeres greater than 10 (26B)
- Preanal myomeres usually greater than 30 (28B)
- Preanal myomeres usually less than 40 (29B)
- Preanal length less than or equal to 67% TL; snout short and blount (31B)
- Adipose fin absent; anal fin rays greater than 20; body relatively unpigmented (32B)
- Hiodontidae
Adult History
- Physical Description
- Rounded dorsal profile, long anal fin, dorsal fin (11-12 rays) origin is even with anal fin origin, silver in color, short snout, large eye, teeth in the mouth, 52-57 lateral line scales, and a fleshy unscaled keel extends from the anus to the pelvic fin
- Spawning Habitat
- Large & clear streams, rivers, or lakes
- Not tolerant or turbid water conditions
- Spawning Substrate
- Eggs are deposited over gravel or swift water locations
- Spawning Behavior
- Broadcast Spawners
- Time of Year
- April – June in Lake Michigan
- Spawning typically takes place at water temperatures of 45 – 60°F
- Diet
- Terrestrial and aquatic insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish