Common shiner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common shiner
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Cyprinus cornutus Mitchill, 1817 Notropis cornutus (Mitchill, 1817) Cyprinus megalops Rafinesque, 1817 Cyprinus melanurus Rafinesque, 1817 Rutilus compressus Rafinesque, 1820 Cyprinus haematopterus Rafinesque, 1820 Cyprinus trivittatus Rafinesque, 1820 Leuciscus vittatus DeKay, 1842 Argyreus rubripinnis Heckel, 1843 Leuciscus spirlingulus Valenciennes, 1844 Leuciscus frontalis Agassiz, 1850 Leuciscus gracilis Agassiz, 1850 Plargyrus bowmani Girard, 1856 Plargyrus argentatus Girard, 1856 Notropis universitatis Evermann & Cockerell, 1909

The common shiner (Luxilus cornutus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, found in North America. It ranges in length between 4 and 6 inches (10 and 15 cm), although they can reach lengths of up to 8 inches (20 cm).

Description

The common shiner is silvery colored (sometimes bronze) and has an "olive back with a dark dorsal stripe."

The common shiner is a freshwater fish found in North America. Adults inhabit rocky pools in small to medium rivers. They can live to be approximately 6 years old.

They are considered sexually mature by 7.4 centimetres (2.9 in). Breeding males have a pinkish tint over most of their body and small bumps or tubercles on their head.

In comparison with Notropis, the common shiner's head, eyes, and mouth are large.

Life history

The common shiner can be found in cool clear creeks and small to medium rivers, usually in the faster pools near riffles and in the shallow littoral of ponds and lakes. They usually concentrate on pools. Its preferred water temperature is 21.9 °C (71.4 °F).

The common shiner reaches sexual maturity by 1–2 years of age, and produces between 400 and 4000 eggs per year. Common shiners spawn in spring between May and June, at temperatures of 16–26 °C (61–79 °F). Common shiners often spawn over the nest of a creek chub, river chub, or fallfish, although some males will make their own small nests. Gravel in riffles is also possible. Spawning males are territorial and will often engage in fights with other males. Once the eggs are ready the male guards the nesting site.

Common shiners are known to hybridize with other shiner species.

Common shiners live for about 4–6 years.

Diet

The common shiner eats "terrestrial and aquatic insects, vegetation, and other fishes."

Predators

Predators of the common shiner include fish (such as the smallmouth bass and chain pickerel) and birds (i.e. mergansers and kingfishers).