Common shiner
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Leuciscinae
Genus: Luxilus
Species:
L. cornutus
Binomial name
Luxilus cornutus
(Mitchill, 1817)
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).[2]

Description

The common shiner is silvery colored (sometimes bronze) and has an "olive back with a dark dorsal stripe." [3]

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.[4]

They are considered sexually mature by 7.4 centimetres (2.9 in).[4] Breeding males have a pinkish tint over most of their body and small bumps or tubercles on their head.[5]

In comparison with Notropis, the common shiner's head, eyes, and mouth are large.[2]

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.[3] 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.[2] Spawning males are territorial and will often engage in fights with other males.[6] Once the eggs are ready the male guards the nesting site.[3]

Common shiners are known to hybridize with other shiner species.[2]

Common shiners live for about 4–6 years.

Diet

The common shiner eats "terrestrial and aquatic insects, vegetation, and other fishes." [3]

Predators

Predators of the common shiner include fish (such as the smallmouth bass and chain pickerel) and birds (i.e. mergansers and kingfishers). [3]

References

  1. ↑ NatureServe (2015). "Luxilus cornutus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T202138A76572315. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-1.RLTS.T202138A76572315.en.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Common Shiner (Notropis cornutus)". Archived from the original on 2008-05-04. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Common Shiner". Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  4. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Luxilus cornutus" in FishBase. April 2023 version.
  5. ↑ Cloutier, Jon-Paul (2008). "Common Shiner". Luxilus cornutus - BIO203. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Pflieger, William L. (1997). The fishes of Missouri (Rev. ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 1-887247-11-4.


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