The Tennessee Dace (Chrosomus tennesseensis) is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is found only in the United States; particularly in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, and parts of extreme northwest Georgia. Until recently, they were considered a subspecies of mountain redbelly dace. They are commonly found in East Tennessee in spring fed first-order streams, often in silt and fine gravel pools, or undercut banks. These streams usually do not exceed 2 meters in width.
Like all Tennessee species in the genus Chrosomus, Tennessee dace have tiny scales and scaled breasts. They usually have scarlet bellies, and are considered some of the most beautiful native fish in Tennessee.
Tennessee dace are considered a nest associate spawner, using central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) and common creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) nests' as spawning grounds. There is evidence to suggest that the Tennessee dace can interbreed with the common creek chub. Spawning for Tennessee dace starts in April and extends into July. Both males and females gain even more coloration during the breeding season.
Their diet is similar to that of other dace species, consisting mainly of attached algal growth. Historically, Tennessee dace have only been found in 62 locations. Due to limited distribution and other factors, they are considered "in need of management" in Tennessee. Future threats include human development and climate change.
Read more about Tennessee Dace: Systematics and Etymology, Identification, Geographic Distribution, Habitat, Diet, Predators, Life History, Breeding Behavior, Nest Association, Hybridization With Semotilus Atromaculatis, Protection, Captive Breeding, Sampling Methods, Recommendations, References