Mountain shiner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain shiner |
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The mountain shiner (Lythrurus lirus) is a small fish found in parts of the United States. It's one of many fish species living in states like Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. You can also find it in some rivers and streams in Virginia. This fish mostly lives in the Coosa River system, which is part of the Alabama River drainage.
Mountain shiners prefer clear, flowing water in creeks and small rivers. They like places with sand, gravel, or small rocks at the bottom. These fish live in temperate waters, which means the water isn't too hot or too cold. Scientists believe there are many mountain shiners, but they don't know the exact total number.
An adult mountain shiner is usually about 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) long. The longest one ever recorded was a male, measuring 7.5 centimeters (about 3 inches). They usually mate during May and June. Currently, the mountain shiner is not considered to be in danger. It's listed as a species of "least concern" for conservation.
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Where Mountain Shiners Live
Mountain shiners are native to North America. They are commonly found in small streams across the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi River Valley, and the Atlantic Seaboard's Piedmont region. In Tennessee, they often live above the "Fall Line," which is a natural boundary where rivers drop from higher land to lower land.
These fish prefer fresh water that is not too hot or too cold. While the exact number of mountain shiners isn't known, scientists think their population is quite large. The number of fish can change throughout the year. This is because things like water levels in rivers and streams can go up and down daily or seasonally. These changes might explain why some groups of mountain shiners are found in different, separated areas within the same river system.
What Mountain Shiners Eat and Their Environment
Mountain shiners live in freshwater environments, usually near the bottom or in the middle of the water. They like clear, flowing creeks, streams, or small rivers. These waters can have bottoms made of sand, gravel, or even larger rocks.
The mountain shiner is closely related to the redfin shiner. Because they are "sister species," scientists believe they probably eat similar things. They likely feed on small organisms found in the water.
Other fish that live in the same areas, like other types of shiners or darters, might compete with the mountain shiner for food and space. Larger fish, such as different kinds of trout, are the main predators of the mountain shiner.
Mountain Shiner Life Cycle and Size
Scientists don't have a lot of detailed information about the full life cycle of the mountain shiner. However, they do know about its size, when it mates, and how it moves.
Most mountain shiners grow to be between 3.5 and 5.5 centimeters (about 1.4 to 2.2 inches) long. As mentioned before, some males have been found to be a bit longer, up to 7.5 centimeters (about 3 inches). This larger size might depend on the environment, how much food is available, and how many predators are around.
The mating season for mountain shiners usually happens from May to June or July, depending on where they live. These fish do move around during the year, but they don't travel very far. Their migrations are usually less than 200 kilometers (about 124 miles). They might move to different spots for breeding or to find places to spend the winter.
Protecting Mountain Shiners
The mountain shiner is currently listed as a species of "least concern" on the Red List, which tracks the conservation status of animals. This means it's not in immediate danger and doesn't need a lot of special management or monitoring right now.
However, scientists are still doing research to learn more about this fish. They want to understand its habits and patterns better. While there aren't major threats to the species as a whole, some local issues can affect mountain shiner populations.
One concern is how human activities can change their habitats. For example, building dams can change how water flows in rivers and streams. Also, pollution from things like farm runoff can enter aquatic systems. These human impacts might cause some mountain shiner populations to shrink, even more than natural changes in water levels.
See also
In Spanish: Lythrurus lirus para niños
