Palezone shiner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palezone shiner |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Leuciscidae |
| Subfamily: | Pogonichthyinae |
| Genus: | Notropis |
| Species: |
N. albizonatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Notropis albizonatus Warren & Burr, 1994
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The palezone shiner (Notropis albizonatus) is a small, rare fish that lives in rivers. It is a type of ray-finned fish, which means its fins are supported by bony rays. This fish belongs to the minnow family, called Cyprinidae.
It is found only in parts of Alabama and Kentucky in the United States. It used to live in Tennessee, but it is no longer found there. This is called being extirpated. Because it is so rare, the palezone shiner is listed as an endangered species in the United States. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
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About the Palezone Shiner
Scientists first described the palezone shiner in 1994. It is considered one of the most endangered fish in the United States. There are only two known groups of these fish left. One group lives in the Paint Rock River in Alabama. This river flows into the Tennessee River. The other group lives in the Little South Fork of the Cumberland River in Kentucky.
This fish used to live in more places. It was also found in a river that flows into the Clinch River in Tennessee.
What It Looks Like
This tiny minnow can grow up to about 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long. It has a very thin and round body shape. Its body is a light, straw-like color. Some of the scales near its tail have dark edges.
The palezone shiner has a dark, shiny stripe along its side. There is also a dark spot near its tail. Above the dark stripe, there is a lighter, pale stripe. This light stripe is how the fish got its name, "palezone."
Its Home and Habits
The palezone shiner lives in streams that flow quickly. These streams usually have clear water. The bottom of their homes is often made of rocks and sand.
Scientists do not know much about how this fish lives. This is called its ecology. They do know that the fish lays its eggs in late spring and summer. This process is called spawning. But not much else is known about how they reproduce.
Why It's Rare
The two groups of palezone shiners live very far apart. This is called a disjunct distribution. It means their homes are separated by a long distance. The fish may have become rare a long time ago. Or, its rarity might be because its habitat is not as healthy now. It could also be a mix of both reasons.
The palezone shiner disappeared from Tennessee because of pollution. This pollution came from coal mining. Also, building large water storage areas, called reservoirs, hurt their habitat.
More Information
- Froese, R. and D. Pauly. (Eds.) Notropis albizonatus. FishBase. 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Notropis albizonatus para niños
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
