Notropis rubricroceus

Notropis rubricroceus
Saffron Shiner – Notropis rubricroceus
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
LeuciscidaeNotropis rubricroceus(Cope)1868Saffron Shiner

Notropis rubricroceus

Unique Characters: Lacks black blotches on the sides. Darkly outlined scales below the lateral line. Dark caudal spot. No small, pale spot at the beginning and end of the dorsal fin base. Melanophores extending only slightly beyond the base of the dorsal fin. Pigmentation below lateral line on anterior half of body: well pigmented, scales darkly margined 1-3 scale rows below lateral line; lots of melanophores blow lateral line. Dark humeral bar behind head. Breeding male has gold stripe along the side.

Similar Species:

Redlip Shiner
Notropis chiliticus

Greenhead Shiner
Notropis chlorocephalus

Notropis chiliticus
Redlip Shiner – Notropis chiliticus
Notropis chlorocephalus
Greenhead Shiner – Notropis chlorocephalus – Catawba

Redlip Shiner Notropis chiliticus. Bright red lips. Scattered black blotches on sides. Darkly outlined scales absent below the lateral line. Small, pale spot at the beginning and end of the dorsal fin base. Melanophores extending more than one-quarter of the height of the dorsal fin.

Greenhead Shiner Notropis chlorocephalus. Dark humeral bar absent. Lateral stripe dark anteriorly, passing uninterrupted from caudal fin onto opercle.

Yellowfin Shiner
Notropis lutipinnis

“Piedmont” Shiner
Notropis sp.

Notropis lutipinnis
Yellowfin Shiner – Notropis lutipinnis

Yellowfin Shiner Notropis lutipinnis. Dark humeral bar absent. Lateral stripe dark anteriorly, passing uninterrupted from caudal fin onto opercle.

Notropis sp. cf. chlorocephalus
“Piedmont” Shiner – Notropis sp. “Piedmont” Shiner

Notropis sp. “Piedmont Shiner.” No red on lips or scattered black blotches on sides. Dark humeral bar absent. Lateral stripe dark anteriorly, passing uninterrupted from caudal fin onto opercle.

Tennessee Shiner
Notropis leuciodus

Notropis leuciodus
Tennessee Shiner – Notropis leuciodus

Tennessee Shiner Notropis leuciodus. Lateral line outlined with small dark dashes (stitching). Distinct black rectangle at base of caudal fin. Dark blotch at posterior base of dorsal fin. Dark wavy stripes on back and upper sides meet those on the other side on caudal peduncle. Usually 8-9 anal fin rays. Scales below the lateral line are not darkly outlined. Breeding male is red. Pigmentation below lateral line on anterior half of body: almost always immaculate, sometimes with scattered slight pigmentation; larger individuals with pigment below lateral line while white are above lateral line less distinct.

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