Redfin shiner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redfin shiner |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The redfin shiner (Lythrurus umbratilis) is a small, colorful freshwater fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes carps and minnows. You can find redfin shiners mainly in the Ohio and Mississippi River areas. They also live in rivers and streams that flow into the Great Lakes in the United States. These fish mostly eat algae and tiny insects. They like calm water in slow-moving streams. They prefer places with gravel or sand at the bottom and some plants.
Contents
What the Redfin Shiner Looks Like
The average adult redfin shiner is about 3.5 inches (9 cm) long. This fish is easy to spot because of its unique shape and colors. It has a body that is quite flat from side to side. It also has large eyes.
Its body is a light olive color. There is a darker stripe along its back. The sides of the fish often look very silvery. During breeding season, male redfin shiners get a reddish tint, making them even more attractive!
Where Redfin Shiners Live
Redfin shiners live in the Great Lakes region and its connecting rivers. They are also found throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Their range extends south through the Ohio and Mississippi River basins, reaching as far west as Texas. These large river systems are their main home. However, we don't know exactly where they live in every small stream.
These fish are most common in small to medium-sized streams. They can live in many different types of watery places. You might find them in slow-moving bays. They can also live in faster-flowing streams in hilly areas. Redfin shiners usually prefer pools of water. They can be found in any stream in their range that has large, slow-moving pools. These pools are their favorite spots.
They like pools where the water temperature is around 20°C (68°F). They also prefer water with a neutral pH level. They tend to favor calm water in streams that don't flow too fast. The bottom of these spots should have sand or gravel and some plants. Even though they like calm water, redfin shiners can handle some faster currents too.
What Redfin Shiners Eat
The redfin shiner is a surface feeder. This means it eats things floating on or near the water's surface. They mainly hunt for insects that live in the water or fall from land. They also eat other small creatures without backbones. Sometimes, they eat a lot of algae. Redfin shiners are not picky eaters. They usually eat whatever food is available to them.
Redfin shiners have many other fish they compete with for food. They also compete for places to lay their eggs. They compete most directly with other fish from their own group, Lythrurus. They also compete with many other fish in the Cypriniformes order.
Besides competing for food, redfin shiners also have many predators. Almost any fish that eats other fish will try to eat a redfin shiner. This is true if the predator's mouth is big enough to swallow a 3.5-inch fish. Redfin shiners are an important food source for many game fish in the eastern United States. Other animals that eat small fish, like mammals, reptiles, and birds, also prey on redfin shiners.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Redfin shiners become ready to have babies when they are two or three years old. Most of these fish only get to spawn (lay eggs) for one summer. This is because they usually only live for about three years.
Spawning happens from early June to mid-August. They lay their eggs in shallow nests made by other fish, like sunfish. Redfin shiners often spawn at the same time and in the same places as many sunfish species. Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) are a common example. Redfin shiners and sunfish can live together in these nests. However, they still compete for space on the spawning beds.
We don't know the average number of eggs a redfin shiner lays at one time. This is because not much research has been done on this specific species. However, scientists expect their clutch size to be similar to other fish in the Cyprinidae family.
Redfin shiners use sunfish nests as their main breeding spot. These nests are good because they are safe and free of silt. Silt is fine dirt that can harm eggs. Sunfish build their nests using sand and gravel. This helps protect the redfin shiner eggs by hiding them. It also keeps them out of the silt. Another big benefit is that the sunfish are already there protecting their own eggs. The sunfish don't seem to mind the redfin shiners being there.
Because there hasn't been much research, we don't know if human activities affect the redfin shiner's life cycle.
Protecting the Redfin Shiner
Right now, there are no special plans to manage or protect redfin shiner populations. This is because scientists believe their numbers are stable in most places they live. There are no major threats, from humans or nature, that seem to be harming the species.
Since their populations are doing well in most areas, the redfin shiner is not listed as endangered. This is true for both state and federal lists in its natural range. While there are no big threats to the species as a whole, local problems can occur. For example, destroying their habitat in some small streams could cause their numbers to drop there.
The only way humans use redfin shiners is as fishing bait. People sometimes use them to catch other fish for fun. However, they are not one of the most common types of bait fish.
Images for kids
-
A redfin shiner swimming in water.
See also
In Spanish: Lythrurus umbratilis para niños
