Redfin Shiner
(Lythrurus umbratilis)
Breeding male redfin shiners (left) are one of the more colorful of Ohio's minnow species. Like most fish species females (below) and non-breeding males display drastically less bright colors.
Description
Redfin shiners have a dark blotch at the front base of the dorsal fin. This species is laterally compressed (flat side to side) and has a deep (taller) body. They have no distinct saddle bands over the back and upper sides. The sides are silver-blue in color with a darker back and lighter white or cream belly. Breeding males can be a bright shiny blue color with bright red fins. Females can get some faint red on the fins but it is much less visible than that of males. Redfin shiners differ from the closely related scarlet shiner by having a deeper body, no distinct saddle bars, and by having more anal fin rays on average (11-13, usually 11).
Habitat and Habits
Redfin shiners are found in sluggish portions of small to medium sized streams and are rather tolerant of turbid (murky) water and some silt. They can also be found in larger rivers but often in low numbers. They are most common in the Maumee, Portage, and Sandusky River systems of Northwest Ohio but can be found throughout the Lake Erie drainage and in the Ohio River drainage in Southeast Ohio. In Southwest Ohio they are replaced by the closely related scarlet shiner.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Redfin shiners spawn throughout late spring and summer over clean sand or fine gravel substrates. They will often use the nests of larger minnow species or even sunfish for spawning but are not obligated to do so.