#mudminnow

Little guy for you

You get a Central Mudminnow

Olympic mudminnow, Novumbra hubbsi

it will never not sadden me that simple freshwater fish dont get very much love, atleast wide-scale. anytime you see fish-related media its usually saltwater, unless targeted at fishers who live in landlocked places. but even then its almost always some big stupid bass. i don't hate bass by any means, i love all fish, but they are overrated. that's not the point though, the point is that saltwater fish overshadow freshwater fish. there is something very nice about freshwater fish that people tend to ignore a lot.

look at this wonderful central mudminnow. in its modesty is beauty.

this alligator gar. it is fierce and primordial (though no threat to humans), its muddy colors adding to the whole aesthetic.

this swamp darter, the epitome of adorable! the colors are amazing as well.

The forest's green with all its trees,

spans its umbrella, oversees

all the fields of grass and flowers,

that rest beneath the wooden towers

and water pillows sleep in peace

underneath some willow trees.

~

There, in the shadow of those willows,

swim the chirpy small mudminnows,

dive through water - clear, brown glass -

resting in the bed of grass

and without any haziness

the water holds the fish unless

they dig down in the mud beneath,

to make a predator believe,

there wasn't anything to hunt

in this crystal clear brown pond.

~

And while the sun baths in the pillow

beneath the old and shaky willow,

the willows branches cut the air

with their shadows ev'rywhere

casting them upon the pillow

wherein it swims, the small mudminnow,

eating plancton, swimming 'round,

hov'ring 'bove the muddy ground,

brown the back, the belly yellow,

above its head, the dreamy willow.

~

But what do shadow and mudminnow,

what does brown beneath the willow,

have in common with each other?

What does make them to each's brother?

Their names, like willows, have strong roots:

They date back to some roman dudes.

---

Eastern Mudminnow (Umbra pygmaea)