Redside Shiner

Body deep and compressed; dorsal fin origin far behind pelvic fin origin; caudal peduncle narrow; caudal fin deeply forked; snout short and point; mouth terminal; eye large; axillary process at pelvic fin base; lateral line decurved, complete wit 52-67 scales; dorsal fin with 8-12 rays (usually 10); anal fin with 10-24 rays (usually 15); intestine long; peritoneum silver; pharyngeal teeth 2,4-4,2 to 2,5-5,2. Olive-gray to brown above, clear to yellow streak above dark stripe along side; red above pectoral fin base on large individuals; clear to yellow-brown fins. Breeding males are brassy yellow, bright red along lower side (Ref. 86798).

Adults move into spawning streams in the afternoon and evening. Spawning occurs as one female and one or two males thrash violently side by side for a few seconds. Fertilized eggs adhere to gravel and vegetation on the bottom.

Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 12; Analsoft rays: 10 - 24

Inhabits runs and flowing to standing pools of headwaters, creeks, and small to medium rivers; also lakes and ponds. Usually found over mud or sand, often near vegetation (Ref. 5723, 86798). Occurs in schools (Ref. 1998). Fry feed on diatoms, copepods, ostracods, and other small planktonic and demersal crustaceans (Ref. 1998). Diet changes to terrestrial and aquatic insects, algae, mollusks, fish eggs (including their own), and small fishes like other redside shiners, other minnows, and trout (Ref. 1998). Preyed upon by mergansers, loons, and mink (Ref. 1998). Adults feed on zooplankton, insects, and plants (Ref. 1998).

Inhabits runs and flowing to standing pools of headwaters, creeks, and small to medium rivers as well as lakes and ponds. Usually found over mud or sand, often near vegetation (Ref. 5723, 86798). Forms schools (Ref. 1998). Fry feed on diatoms, copepods, ostracods, and other small planktonic and demersal crustaceans (Ref. 1998). Diet changes to terrestrial and aquatic insects, algae, mollusks, fish eggs (including their own), and small fishes like other redside shiners, other minnows, and trout (Ref. 1998). Preyed upon by mergansers, loons, and mink (Ref. 1998).

The redside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus) is a species of cyprinid fish found in the western United States and Canada.