The coastal roach (Hesperoleucus venustus) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, chubs, Eurasian minnows and related species. This species is endemic to the coastal rivers of California, the most northerly population is in the Navarro River, then in the Russian River south to Tomales Bay, the drainage of San Francisco Bay but are absent in catchments south of there until the populations in the Salinas and Pajaro rivers. There is a population in the Soquel Creek in Santa Cruz County which was probably introduced from the Salinas River. The population in the Cuyama River may be native.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Coastal Roach being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Hesperoleucus symmetricus
- Richardsonius egregius
- Telestes muticellus
- Agosia chrysogaster
- Gila orcuttii
- Squalius alburnoides
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Cypriniformes
- Family
- Leuciscidae
- Genus
- Hesperoleucus
- Species
- Hesperoleucus venustus
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