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This is
just one species of 44 species from the minnow and carp family (Cyprinidae)
inhabiting Canadian waters. The redbelly dace is generally less then 2
inches in length, although it is certainly one of the more spectacular
of the minnows, with male and females exhibiting bright red and green
vertical color band, respectively. This species typically inhabits the
northerly, tea-colored habitats such as boggy lakes, beaver ponds, and
creeks. The diet of this species is broad, and includes zooplankton and
invertebrates, although they feed primarily on algae. Commonly residing
in the same habitats as brook trout, the redbelly dace is itself a food
source for brook trout populations.
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