Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2014 - 37

CANDIDATE

Central Mudminnow

crustaceans), black flies, mayflies, caddisflies and
mollusks. They usually snag their dinner by lying in wait
and ambushing their prey. Some studies have shown that
they are unusually active in winter and often have more
food in their stomachs at that time of the year than at
other times of the year.
They spawn in early spring, which may account to a
degree for their late-season feeding activity. Both species
usually spawn in April, often in flooded areas adjacent
to streams or swamps. Anywhere from 200 to more than
2,000 sticky eggs are produced, depending on the size of
the female. The eggs are attached to rocks or vegetation,
and they hatch in only six days. The female guards the eggs
while the male hovers nearby. Nobody is sure whether the
male is protecting his family-to-be or waiting for a chance
at a quick snack.
Both mudminnow species have a limited distribution
in Pennsylvania and are listed as candidate species.
However, a recent analysis has indicated that the Central
Mudminnow may be secure here. Although it doesn't
occur at a large number of sites, a few sites, particularly
the Pymatuning Swamp and Conneaut Marsh wetland
complexes, are rather extensive and appear to hold good
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numbers. In addition, those areas are protected as State
Game Lands. They also occur on Bureau of State Park
lands and the Erie National Wildlife Refuge.
The jury is still out on the Eastern Mudminnow.
Its distribution is split between the densely populated
southeast, where a number of sites have already been
destroyed, and the fast-growing Pocono Mountains
region. One issue confounding biologists in the Poconos
is poor access. Many potential survey locations are located
on private lands where access is prohibited or difficult to
obtain. This area may hold a good number of undetected
populations, which may ultimately allow delisting.
However, there is still a level of concern for the
long-term well being of both species. One of their
favored haunts is wetlands, and more than half of the
marshes and swamps that historically occurred in
Pennsylvania have already been destroyed. And, although
mudminnows can tolerate some inhospitable conditions,
they cannot tolerate siltation.
One thing that mudminnows have going for them
is that they are among the toughest of fishes. They can
tolerate temperatures in the upper 80s and survive
high levels of ammonia when water levels drop during
the summer. In addition, they can gulp air and utilize
atmospheric oxygen. Though, that is of little benefit if
their wetlands are drained or filled.
In spite of existing concerns, the outlook for
Pennsylvania's mudminnows can be considered cautiously
optimistic. Even though most Pennsylvanians will never
see a mudminnow, it is reassuring to know that they
should continue to stalk our aquatic underworld.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2014

37
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2014

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