# Minnow (*Phoxinus phoxinus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/phoxinus-phoxinus  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) is a bony fish in the family Cyprinidae and the subfamily Leuciscinae, within the order Cypriniformes. It is also called the common minnow or channel minnow, and its scientific name carries the authority (Linnaeus, 1758). The IUCN Red List assesses the minnow globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater, riverine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Cypriniformes
- family: Cyprinidae
- genus: Phoxinus
- species: *Phoxinus phoxinus* (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms: *Cyprinus aphya*, *Cyprinus chrysoprasius*, *Cyprinus galian*, *Cyprinus isetensis*, *Cyprinus lumaireul*, *Cyprinus morella*, *Cyprinus phoxinus*, *Cyprinus rivularis*, *Leuciscus phoxinus*, *Phoxinus chrysoprasius*, *Phoxinus csikii*, *Phoxinus isetensis*, *Phoxinus laevis*, *Phoxinus laevis*, *Phoxinus laevis balchaschana*, *Phoxinus laevis var. balchaschana*, *Phoxinus lumaireul*, *Phoxinus marsilii*, *Phoxinus morella*, *Phoxinus phoxinus carpathicus*, *Phoxinus phoxinus phoxinus*, *Phoxinus rivularis*, *Phoxinus varius*, *Phoxynus montanus*, *Salmo rivularis*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the minnow?

The minnow is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Cyprinidae and the subfamily Leuciscinae.

### What is the scientific name of the minnow?

The scientific name of the minnow is Phoxinus phoxinus, in the genus Phoxinus.

### Who named the minnow and when?

The minnow's scientific name is attributed to (Linnaeus, 1758).

### Is the minnow endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses the minnow globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

### What other names does the minnow have?

The minnow is also called the common minnow and the channel minnow.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/phoxinus-phoxinus