Lythrurus umbratilis
redfin shiner
Type Locality
Sugar Loaf Creek, Sebastian
County, Arkansas (Girard 1857).
Etymology/Derivation of Scientific Name
Lythrurus, Greek,
meaning red tail; umbratilis, from Latin word umbra, meaning
“shade” (Pflieger 1997).
Synonymy
Alburnus umbratilis
Girard 1857:193.
Minnilus punctulatus Hay 1881:508; Hay1883:74.
Notropis umbratilis punctulatus Yeager
1933:39.
[part]
Notropic umbratilis Cook 1959:122.
Notropis umbratilis Medford and Simco
1971:122; Knight and Cooper 1987:33 (Ross 2001, co-authored
with W.M. Brenneman).
Characters
Maximum size: 88mm
(3.46 in) TL
(Etnier and Starnes 1993).
Coloration: Dorsal fin
with prominent black spot at base of anterior rays (Hubbs et al. 1991). Back
and upper sides bluish-gray or olive, grading to silvery white to white
along the lower sides and venter. Belly and lower surfaces generally
immaculate except for melanophores surrounding the anal fin base and
scattered pigment posterior to the anal fin base. Edges of the anterior
dorsolateral scales are outlined with pigment, producing a dusky
cross-hatching; this pattern usually obscured in nuptial males due to a
general darkening of the fins and body. Most pores on anterior lateral line
scales below the mid-lateral region are bordered on top and bottom by a
single melanophore. Top of the head and snout evenly pigmented, as is
anterior half of lower jaw. Diffuse lateral band evident mostly along sides
of the caudal peduncle, and weakly pigmented (dusky) stripe found anterior
to the dorsal fin. All dorsal fin rays outlined with melanophores. Darkly
pigmented spot of variable intensity (depending on population and
developmental stage) present on the anterior base of the dorsal fin. In some
specimens, basi-dorsal spot appears more evident at the origin of the dorsal
fin rather than on the fin itself. All rays of caudal and anal fins outlined
with melanophores; those of the latter only sparingly. Leading rays of
pectoral and pelvic fins faintly outlined with pigment. Breeding males
develop red pigment in all fins, especially the caudal, and dark,
“chevron-shaped” markings on the humeral areas (Ross 2001).
Counts: Pharyngeal
teeth 2, 4-4, 2 or 1,4-4,1; 41-45 lateral line scales; 25 or more predorsal scales; usually 9-12 anal fin
soft rays (Hubbs et al.1991); 13-15
pectoral soft fin rays; 8 pelvic soft fin rays (Snelson and Pflieger 1975).
Body shape: Moderate
to deep bodied, laterally compressed. Deep-bodied appearance is further
emphasized in breeding males with the elevation of the predorsal region.
Body depth of adult males goes into SL 3.2-4.1 times. Snout is pointed and
may appear even more so in nuptial males, on which the mouth opening may
actually become superior due to the extension of the tip of the lower jaw
beyond the upper jaw (Ross 2001).
Mouth position:
Terminal and oblique (Hubbs et al.1991).
Morphology:
Origin of dorsal fin behind insertion of pelvic fin. Scales small. Dorsal
fin more triangular, last fin ray less then one half length of the longest.
Predorsal scales crowded. First obvious dorsal fin ray a thin splint,
closely attached to the following well developed but unbranched ray. Lower lip thin, without fleshy lobes. Premaxillaries protractile; upper lip separated from skin of snout
by a deep groove continuous across the midline. Distance from origin of anal fin to end of caudal peduncle contained
two and one-half or fewer times in distance from tip of snout to origin of
anal fin (Hubbs et al. 1991). Lateral line complete, strongly decurved
anteriorly, and interrupted at various locations on the head. Moderately
large, erect tubercles are best developed in males and are scattered
dorsally from the leading rays of the dorsal fin anteriorly to the tip of
the snout. Tubercles are also found on both rami of the lower jaw and on
preorbital and suborbital regions. Mature females have an enlarged
urogenital papilla that is quite evident during the breeding season (Ross
2001). Intestine short, forming a simple S-shaped loop (Hubbs et al. 1991).
Distribution (Native and Introduced)
U.S. distribution:
Throughout the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys into the Great Lakes
region, this species reaches the southwestern edge of its range in Texas
(Hubbs et al. 1991). Occurring across Gulf Coast from San Jacinto drainage
in Texas to Lake Pontchartrain basin in Louisiana, up the Mississippi River
valley, and as far north as southern Ontario, Canada (Snelson and Pflieger
1975).
Texas distribution: It
has been found in Red, Sabine, Neches, and Trinity basins (Hubbs et al.,
1991). Red River unit (from the mouth upstream to and including the Kiamichi
River; Warren et al. 2000).
Abundance/Conservation status (Federal, State,
Non-governmental organizations)
Populations in southern
drainages are currently stable (Warren et al. 2000). Not listed as threatened or
endangered by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (2006).
Habitat Associations
Macrohabitat:
This species occupies a variety of habitats throughout its range
(Snelson and Pflieger 1975; Pflieger 1997; Ross 2001). In Mississippi,
reaches greatest abundance in middle to upper reaches of small to medium
sized streams (Ross 2001); in Ohio, abundant in streams of all sizes
(Trautman 1981).
Mesohabitat:
Associated with flowing waters, but avoids strong currents; prefers deep,
quiet pools where it occurs in schools at or near surface. In streams with
low gradient or low base flow, species occurs in pools of the stream
channel; in high gradient streams, with strong base flow, species more often
found in protected inlets and overflow pools away from the main channel
(Snelson and Pflieger 1975). Although reported to prefer turbid streams
(Hubbs and Lagler 1958), streams inhabited by this species vary greatly in
turbidity and those supporting the largest populations are moderately clear
(Snelson and Pflieger 1975).
Biology
Spawning season: In
Mississippi, protracted spawning period extending from late April or early
May to late August (Matthews and Heins 1984). In Missouri, mid-May to early
August (Pflieger 1997).
Spawning habitat:
Listed as a representative of the phyto-lithophilous guild of non-guarding
fishes (Balon 1975). Open substratum spawners; broadcast spawners;
lithophils, rock and gravel spawners (Simon 1999). In Ohio, spawning
observed over sand and gravel in rather sluggish riffles and pools having
currents, apparently utilizing swifter riffles only when the slower ones and
the pools had silt-covered bottoms (Trautman 1981).
Reproductive strategy:
May spawn over sunfish nests (Snelson and Pflieger 1975), particularly nests
of green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), the green sunfish (Hunter and Wisby 1961;
Hunter and Hasler 1965). Sunfish nests provides a clean, silt-free substrate
for egg development, and presence of the male sunfish prevents other fish
entering nest and eating the eggs (Pflieger 1997).
Fecundity: In
Mississippi, clutch size of females 34-52 mm (1.34-2.05 in) SL are 219-887 mature ova;
ovaries comprise 16-39% of female’s body weight during breeding season;
mature ova are 0.72-0.87 mm (0.02-0.03 in) diameter (Matthews and Heins 1984).
Age at maturation: In
Mississippi, within 1 year; females began to mature sexually at a length of
28 mm (1.10 in) SL; all females 32 mm (1.26 in) SL or larger were sexually mature (Matthews and Heins 1984). Pflieger (1997) reports most sexually mature adults as being in
their second or third summer.
Migration: No
information at this time.
Longevity: In
Mississippi, maximum age no more than 2 years; most redfin shiners living 1.5 years or
less (Matthews and Heins 1984). Pflieger (1997) states the life span of this
species seldom exceeds three summers.
Food habits: Primarily
surface feeder (Stegman and Minckley 1959); zooplankton, small
invertebrates, and even plant matter as general components of diet (Forbes
and Richardson 1920). In Calcasieu River drainage, southern Louisiana, diet
changes seasonally; during “wet” season, 57% of diet obtained from surface
prey, with another 40% from benthic animal prey; diet varied more during
“dry” season (food perhaps more limiting), with 59% of diet composed of
surface animal prey, 14% from midwater prey, 14% from benthic prey, 13% from
organic detritus (Felley and Felley 1987).
Growth: Males
significantly larger than females (Snelson and Pflieger 1975).
Young-of-the-year in Ohio reported to reach lengths of 18-51 mm (0.71-2.01
in) by October;
around one year, 33-56 mm (1.38-2.17 in); adults usually 46-74 mm (1.81-2.91
in) (Trautman 1981). In
central Missouri, the species attains a length of about 28 mm (1.10 in) by the end of
its first summer of life and averages about 43 mm (1.69 in) by the end of its second
summer (Pflieger 1997).
Phylogeny and morphologically similar fishes
Juveniles often mistaken
for ribbon shiners (L. fumeus); L. umbratilis have a much
deeper body; darker, anterior basidorsal spot (albeit faint at times); red
breeding colors; and fairly large, scattered breeding tubercles relative to
ribbon shiners (Ross 2001). Page and Burr (1991) list the red shiner
(Cyprinella
lutrensis) as a similar species to Lythrurus umbratilis; C.
lutrensis differs from L. umbratilis in that it lacks dark blotch
at dorsal fin origin, small scales on nape, herringbone lines on upper
sides, and has diamond shaped scales. Like L. umbratilis, C.
lutrensis also spawns over sunfish nests, and hybrids between the red
shiner and the redfin shiner sometimes occur (Pflieger 1997). Creek chubs (Semotilus
atromaculatus) also have a dark blotch at the anterior dorsal fin base,
but is a cylindrical rather than slab-sided species and has only 8 anal fin
rays (Etnier and Starnes 1993).
Host Records
No
information at this time.
Commercial or Environmental
Importance
In
Mississippi, redfin shiners are used as bait fishes when collected along
with other minnows (Cook 1959).
References
Balon, E.K. 1975. Reproductive guilds of fishes: a proposal and definition.
Journal of Fisheries Research Board of Canada 32:821-864.
Cook, F.A. 1959 Freshwater Fishes in Mississippi. Mississippi Game and Fish
Comm., Jackson, MS. 239 pp.
Etnier, D.A., and W.C. Starnes. 1993. The Fishes of Tennessee. University of
Tennessee Press, Knoxville. 681 pp.
Felley, J.D. and S.M. Felley. 1987. Relationships between habitat selection
by individuals of a species and patterns of habitat segregation among
species: fishes of the Calcasieu Drainage, pp.61-68. in: Evolutionary
and community ecology of North American stream fishes. W.J. Matthews and
D.C. Heins, eds. Univ. Oklahoma Press. Norman.
Girard, C. 1857. Researches upon the cyprinid fishes in habiting the fresh
waters of the United States of America, west of the Mississippi Valley from
specimens in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Proc. Acad. Nat.
Sci. Phil. (1856) 8(5):165-213.
Hay, O.P. 1881. On a collection of fishes from eastern Mississippi. Proc.
U.S. Nat. Mus. 3:488-515.
Hay, O.P. 1883. On a collection of fishes from the lower Mississippi Valley.
Bull. U.S. Fish Comm. 2:57-75.
Hubbs, C.L. and K.F. Lagler. 1958. Fishes of the Great Lakes Region.
University of Michigan Press. Ann Arbor MI.
Hubbs, C., R.J. Edwards and G.P. Garret. 1991. An annotated checklist of
freshwater fishes of Texas, with key to identification of species. Texas
Journal of Science, Supplement 43(4):1-56.
Hunter, J.R. and A.D. Hasler. 1965. Spawning association of the redfin
shiner, Notropis umbratilis, and the green sunfish, Lepomis
cyanellus. Copeia 1965 (3):265-285.
Hunter, J.R. and W.J. Wisby. 1961. Utilization green sunfish (Lepomis
cyanellus) by redfin shiner (Notropis umbratilis cyanocephalus)
Copeia 1961 (I):113-115.
Knight, S.S. and C.M. Cooper 1987. Fishes of the Otoucala Creek,
Mississippi, prior to major channel modifications. J. Miss. Acad. Sci.
32:31-38.
Matthews, M. M. and D.C. Heins 1984. Life History of the redfin shiner,
Notropis umbratilis (Pisces:Cyprinidae), in Mississippi. Copeia
1984:385-390.
Medford, D.W. and B.A. Simco. 1971. The fishes of the Wolf River, Tennessee
and Mississippi. J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 46(4):121-123.
Page, L.M., and B.M. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North
America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 pp.
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Department of Conservation. Jefferson City. 372 pp.
Ross, S.T. 2001. Inland fishes of Mississippi. University Press of
Mississippi, Jackson Mississippi. 1-624 pp.
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to Midwestern North American freshwater fishes, pp. 97-121. In:
Simon, T. P. (editor). Assessing the sustainability and biological integrity
of water resources using fish communities. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida.
671 pp.
Snelson, F.F. Jr., and W.L. Pflieger. 1975. Redescription of the redfin
shiner, Notropis umbratilis, and its subspecies in the central
Mississippi River Basin. Copeia 1975:231-249.
Stegman, J.L., and W.L. Minckley. 1959. Occurrence of three species of
fishes in interstices of gravel in an area of subsurface flow. Copeia
1959(4):341.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Wildlife Division, Diversity and
Habitat Assessment Programs. County Lists of Texas' Special Species. [30 May
2006].
http://gis.tpwd.state.tx.us/TpwEndangeredSpecies/DesktopModules/AcountyCodeKeyForWebESDatabases.pdf
Trautman, M.B. 1981. The Fishes of Ohio. Ohio State University Press,
Columbus. 782 pp.
Warren, M.L. Jr., B.M. Burr, S. J. Walsh, H.L. Bart Jr., R. C. Cashner, D.A.
Etnier, B. J. Freeman, B.R. Kuhajda, R.L. Mayden, H. W. Robison, S.T. Ross,
and W. C. Starnes. 2000. Diversity, distribution and conservation status of
the native freshwater fishes of the southern United States. Fisheries
25(10):7-29.
Yeager, L.E. 1933. The fishes of Northeast Mississippi. Master’s thesis,
Mississippi Sate Univ., Starkville.
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