“You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon.” 🌕
It’s a Wonderful Life for the first #GreatLakes #25DaysofFishmas feature, the mooneye (Hiodon tergisus)!
It’s a Wonderful Life for the first #GreatLakes #25DaysofFishmas feature, the mooneye (Hiodon tergisus)!
Shining like #fishmas lights: Mooneye’s common name comes from the metallic shine of its big eyes; the “tergisus” part of its scientific name means "polished" #GreatLakes #25DaysofFishmas
The mooneye is found in large, clear rivers + lakes throughout North America including the southern #GreatLakes (Erie, Ontario, parts of Michigan) and their tributaries (connecting rivers) #25DaysofFishmas
Smile! The mooneye + very closely-related goldeye are both members of the Osteoglossiformes (AKA bony tongues). Three guesses as to why the group is called that. #GreatLakes #25DaysofFishmas
Got a long travel to visit family this #fishmas season? Mooneye can relate: their
relatives in the order Osteoglossiformes live in the southern hemisphere,
including cousin Arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fishes #GreatLakes
#25DaysofFishmas
relatives in the order Osteoglossiformes live in the southern hemisphere,
including cousin Arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fishes #GreatLakes
#25DaysofFishmas
Confusing common names: "mooneye" is often used not only for the real mooneyes but also for gizzard shad + alewives because all 3 species are similar in appearance, having a silver-colored, slab-sided body with a narrow belly #GreatLakes #25DaysofFishmas
Don't you hate when family brings out the baby pics at your #fishmas get-together? In the #GreatLakes, mooneye migrate up rivers in April/May to spawn in areas with swift currents that allow their eggs to drift with the current until hatching. #25DaysofFishmas
