Common shiner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common shiner |
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The common shiner (Luxilus cornutus) is a type of freshwater fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes minnows and carps. You can find this fish in many parts of North America. Common shiners usually grow to be about 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) long. Some can even reach up to 20 centimeters (8 inches)!
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What Does a Common Shiner Look Like?
Common shiners are mostly silvery in color. Sometimes, they can have a bronze tint. Their back is usually olive-colored with a dark stripe along the top.
These fish live in freshwater environments. Adult common shiners prefer rocky areas in small to medium-sized rivers. They can live for about six years.
Male common shiners are ready to breed when they are about 7.4 centimeters (3 inches) long. During breeding season, males get a pinkish color on their bodies. They also grow small bumps, called tubercles, on their heads.
Compared to some other shiner fish, the common shiner has a larger head, bigger eyes, and a wider mouth.
Where Do Common Shiners Live and How Do They Grow?
Common shiners like cool, clear creeks and small to medium rivers. They often hang out in faster-moving pools near riffles. You can also find them in the shallow parts of ponds and lakes. They usually gather in pools where the water is calm. They prefer water temperatures around 21.9 degrees Celsius (71.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Common shiners become old enough to reproduce when they are 1 to 2 years old. Each year, a female can lay between 400 and 4,000 eggs. They lay their eggs in the spring, usually from May to June. This happens when the water temperature is between 16 and 26 degrees Celsius (61 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit).
Common shiners often lay their eggs near the nests of other fish. These can include the creek chub, river chub, or fallfish. Sometimes, male common shiners will build their own small nests. They might also use gravel areas in riffles for spawning.
During spawning, male common shiners protect their nesting sites. They will often fight with other males to keep their territory safe. Common shiners are also known to hybridize with other types of shiner fish. This means they can sometimes have babies with different shiner species.
These fish typically live for about 4 to 6 years.
What Do Common Shiners Eat?
The common shiner has a varied diet. They eat insects that live on land and in the water. They also munch on different types of plants. Sometimes, they will even eat smaller fish.
Who Eats Common Shiners?
Common shiners are a food source for many animals. Larger fish, like the smallmouth bass and chain pickerel, hunt them. Birds also prey on common shiners. These include mergansers (a type of duck) and kingfishers.
