Carmine shiner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carmine shiner |
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Alburnellus percobromus Cope, 1871 |
The carmine shiner (Notropis percobromus) is a small freshwater fish. It belongs to the Minnow family, called Cyprinidae. In some places like Manitoba, people used to call it the rosyface shiner. Scientists now know it's a unique species, even though it looks a lot like the rosyface shiner.
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What Does the Carmine Shiner Look Like?
This fish is long and slender. It usually grows to about 5.5 to 6 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. Its snout is about the same size as its eye.
- Colors: Adult carmine shiners are olive green on their backs. Their sides are silvery, and their bellies are silvery white.
- Special Marks: You might see black lines around the scales on their backs. Their cheeks can sometimes look pinkish.
- Breeding Colors: When it's time to breed, male carmine shiners get special bumps on their heads and fins. They also turn pinkish-violet around their heads. The base of their dorsal fin (the fin on their back) gets a reddish color. Female fish are usually lighter in color during this time.
- Delicate Fish: These fish are very delicate. Their scales can fall off easily if you try to catch or handle them.
Where Do Carmine Shiners Live?
Carmine shiners live in eastern North America. In the United States, you can find them from North Dakota and South Dakota down to Arkansas.
In Canada, they are only found in the Winnipeg River system. This includes the Whitemouth River watershed in Manitoba. They might also live upstream in Lake of the Woods, Ontario. The fish in Manitoba are at the far northwestern edge of their range. They are about 450 kilometers (280 miles) away from the main group of carmine shiners.
What is Their Home Like?
Carmine shiners like to live in clear, fast-flowing streams and small rivers. They prefer areas with clean gravel or rocky bottoms. During summer, they often swim in groups in the middle of the water. You can find them in shallow, fast-moving parts of rivers (called riffles) and deeper pools. They often gather where smaller streams meet larger rivers.
- Spawning: We don't know much about how they spawn in Manitoba. However, in southern areas, they usually lay their eggs in May or June. They do this when the water temperature is between 20 and 28.9 degrees Celsius (68 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Eggs and Young: The eggs stick to gravel, often in nests made by other minnow species. The eggs hatch in about 60 hours if the water is around 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit). The tiny fish larvae then move down into the gravel.
- Lifespan: These fish become adults when they are one year old. They usually live for about three years. In winter, they likely move to deeper water to stay safe.
Why Are Carmine Shiners Endangered?
The carmine shiner is an endangered species. This means there are not many of them left, and they are at risk of disappearing.
- Protection: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has listed them as endangered. They are also protected under Canada's federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) since June 2004. This law helps protect species that are in danger. The federal Fisheries Act also gives them protection.
- Recovery Plan: A special plan has been created to help this species recover and increase its numbers.
What Do Carmine Shiners Eat?
Carmine shiners mostly eat insects that live in the water. They also eat some insects that fall into the water from land. Sometimes, they eat fish eggs, algae, and tiny plant-like organisms called diatoms. They find their food by looking for it.
What Dangers Do They Face?
Carmine shiners are sensitive to changes in their habitat. Many things can threaten them:
- Water Changes: Activities that make the water cloudy or change how fast it flows can harm them.
- Habitat Damage: Things like straightening river channels, building dams, or removing gravel from riverbeds can destroy their homes.
- Pollution: Runoff from land that adds too much dirt (sediment) to the water is also a problem.
- Shoreline Development: Building along riverbanks can also hurt their habitat.
- Dams: In the past, dams built on the Winnipeg River system made the water cloudier. They also reduced the number of fast-moving riffle areas that carmine shiners need. This might have caused their numbers to drop.
- Other Fish: Introducing new species of fish or catching too many fish for bait can also be a threat.
How Are They Different From Similar Fish?
The carmine shiner looks a lot like its close relative, the emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides). However, the emerald shiner has a deeper body that is flatter from side to side. It also has a blunter snout.
