Rosyface Shiner
(Notropis rubellus)
Rosyface shiners are one of several smaller Ohio minnows that spawn in the pebble mound nests of much larger nest building minnows such as river and hornyhead chubs.
Description
Rosyface shiners are a long slender very silvery minnow. All the fins are transparent and the dorsal fin is set far back on the body beginning behind the front edge of the pelvic fins. This species has 10-13 anal fin rays. Roseyface shiners have a very pointed snout and the mouth sits at an upward angle. The name rosyface shiner comes from the rosy red-orange coloration on the sides of the head and just behind the gills on breeding males. Breeding females can have a minimal amount of this color as well.
Habitat and Habits
Rosyface shiners are found in moderate sized streams with relatively clear waters and fairly steep gradients. They are typically found in swift flowing water with a sand, gravel, or rock substrate. They are intolerant of streams with consistently turbid (murky) waters. Rosyface shiners can be found throughout much of Ohio but are mostly absent from the Sandusky, Portage, and Maumee River systems of northwest Ohio.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Rosyface shiners spawn in May typically over the pebble mound nests of river and hornyhead chubs. Often large schools of rosyface shiners and other small minnows will congregate over a single chub nest. Once they have spawned they leave the eggs to the care of the male chub.