California roach

California roach
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Leuciscidae
Subfamily: Laviniinae
Genus: Hesperoleucus
Snyder, 1913
Species:
H. symmetricus
Binomial name
Hesperoleucus symmetricus
Synonyms
  • Pogonichthys symmetricus Baird & Girard, 1854
  • Lavinia symmetricus (Baird & Girard, 1854)
  • Hesperoleucus navarroensis Snyder, 1913

The California roach (previously Lavinia/Hesperoleucus symmetricus) 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 native to western North America and abundant in the intermittent streams throughout central California. Once considered a single species, it has recently been split into a number of closely related species and subspecies. It is closely related to the Hitch, and together they form a species complex. The California roach derives its common name from its visual similarities to the roach of Europe, however they are not closely taxonomically related.