Minnow

Minnow

Minnow is a general term used to refer to small freshwater and saltwater fish, especially those used as bait fish or for fishing bait. More specifically, it refers to small freshwater fish of the carp family.

True minnows

Smaller fish in the subfamily Leuciscinae are considered to be "true" minnows:

  • Bluntnose minnows, fish in the genus Pimephales
  • Cardinal minnows, fish in the genus Tanichthys
  • Cheat Minnow Pararhinichthys bowersi
  • Cutlips minnows, fish in the genus Exoglossum
  • Desert minnows, fish in the genus Dionda
  • Eurasian minnows, fish in the genus Phoxinus
  • Loach Minnow (Rhinichthys cobitis)
  • Pikeminnows, fish in the genus Ptychocheilus
  • Pugnose minnows, fish in the genus Opsopoeodus
  • Silverjaw minnows, fish in the genus Ericymba
  • Silvery minnows, fish in the genus Hybognathus
  • Suckermouth minnows, fish in the genus Phenacobius

Other minnows

Other fish specifically called minnows include

  • in the Southern Hemisphere, some fish in the family Galaxiidae, in particular those of genus Galaxias
  • in Southeast Asia, the danionins
  • the Drakensberg Minnow (Barbus aspius) from South Africa
  • the Maluti Minnow (Pseudobarbus quathlambae) from Lesotho
  • the Falklands minnow from the Falkland Islands
  • the Piketop winnow (Belonesox belizanus) are confused for the northern pike, (Esox lucius), also called "Minnow" for the little zize.

See also


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Synonyms:
, (Leuciscus phoxinus)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • minnow — UK US /ˈmɪnəʊ/ noun [C] INFORMAL ► a person or organization that is not important and has little influence or power: »The company is a minnow in the motor racing world …   Financial and business terms

  • minnow — ► NOUN 1) a small freshwater fish of the carp family. 2) a small or unimportant person. ORIGIN probably from Old English, influenced by Old French menu small, minnow …   English terms dictionary

  • minnow — [min′ē] n. pl. minnies [min′ō] n. minnows or minnow [ME menow < or akin to OE myne, akin to OHG muniwa, prob. < IE base * meni , a kind of fish > Gr mainē, Russ men , eelpout] 1. any of various, usually small, freshwater cyprinoid fishes …   English World dictionary

  • Minnow — Min now, n. [OE. menow, cf. AS. myne; also OE. menuse, OF. menuise small fish; akin to E. minish, minute.] [Written also {minow}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A small European fresh water cyprinoid fish ({Phoxinus l[ae]vis}, formerly {Leuciscus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • minnow — (n.) small freshwater fish, early 15c., probably related to O.E. myne, earlier *mynwe, a name for some kind of fish, from P.Gmc. *muniwon (Cf. M.L.G. möne, Du. meun, O.H.G. muniwa, Ger. Münne), of unknown origin, perhaps from PIE *men small.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • minnow — /min oh/, n., pl. (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) minnows, (esp. collectively, Rare) minnow for 1, 2, 3. 1. a small, European cyprinoid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus. 2. any other fish of the family Cyprinidae, including the carps,… …   Universalium

  • minnow — noun (plural minnows; also minnow) Etymology: Middle English menawe; akin to Old English myne minnow, Old High German munewa, a kind of fish Date: 15th century 1. a. a small cyprinid, killifish, or topminnow b. any of various small fish that are… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • minnow — Killifish Kil li*fish , n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus {Fundulus} and allied genera. They live equally well in fresh and brackish water, or even in the sea. They are usually striped or barred with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • minnow — noun 1》 a small freshwater fish of the carp family, which typically forms large shoals. [Phoxinus phoxinus.]     ↘used in names of similar fishes, e.g. mudminnow.     ↘Fishing an artificial lure imitating a minnow. 2》 a small or unimportant… …   English new terms dictionary

  • minnow — UK [ˈmɪnəʊ] / US [ˈmɪnoʊ] noun [countable] Word forms minnow : singular minnow plural minnows 1) a small fish that lives in rivers and lakes 2) informal an unimportant person or organization …   English dictionary

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