Minnow

For the boat in Gilligan's Island, see S.S. Minnow. For the rugby team, see Mighty Minnows.

Bluntnose 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. They are also known in Ireland as pinkeens.

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 size.

See also

• Fish
• Sharks and Minnows