The mountain redbelly dace (Chrosomus oreas) is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Chrosomus. North America: Mountain and Piedmont regions of Atlantic Slope from Shenandoah River (Potomac River drainage) in Virginia to Neuse River drainage in North Carolina, USA; upper New River drainage in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, USA. Introduced into the upper Holston River system in Virginia, and Big Sandy River system in Kentucky. Chrosomus oreas can be distinguished by the possession of the following characters: black stripe along side broken under dorsal fin; large black spots in row along back and along upper side; 64-81 scales on lateral line; pharyngeal 0,5-5,0; snout moderately pointed; mouth slightly subterminal; coloration consists of olive to green-gold above, silver white to red below, bright red below (including lower half of opercle), behind opercle, and at base of dorsal fin in large males, bright silver pectoral and pelvic fin bases, black chin and breast, and yellow fins.
