Red shiner

Characteristics

An extremely slab-sided minnow with a terminal, oblique mouth, which has no barbel. The back is olive-green with silvery sides and a white belly. Edges of the scales on the back and upper sides are outlined with pigment giving it a diamond-shaped look. Color of the spawning male is remarkable and distinctive. The body is pinkish to red and steely-blue color on the back, with the top of the head bright red. A bluish crescent appears behind the opercle and in front of the pectoral fins, the dorsal fin is dark, and the other fins are red or orange. Hooked pharyngeal teeth on sturdy arches are arranged in a 4-4 pattern, but variation of 0, 4-4, l and l, 4-4, 1 have been noted. The dorsal fin has 8 rays and is uniformly pigmented, while the anal fin has 9 rays, the pectoral fins 14, and the pelvic fins 8 rays. A complete and de-curved lateral line has 34 to 35 scales. Tubercles develop on the snout and head.

Distribution

Found throughout the Missouri, Des Moines, and Skunk River drainages and the lower reaches of the Iowa and Cedar River systems. Reported rarely in the north-central and northeastern streams of Iowa. Common or abundant in streams and occasional or common in the natural and man-made lakes. The Red Shiner and the Spotfin Shiner are complementary species; the Red Shiner is found in the southwestern part of the state and the Spotfin Shiner lives in the northeastern part.

Foods

Aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates

State Record

not recorded

Expert Tip

Popular bait minnow and aquarium fish.

Details

The Red Shiner is a pioneer species, moving into new, disturbed or marginal habitat where other fish are rare. Spawning occurs from May to August, and because of their adaptive spawning habits they are able to live in polluted, turbid, or unstable waters.  Adults reach 3-inches long. 

Recent stream sampling information is available from Iowa DNR's biological monitoring and assessment program.