Fish Iowa - Fish Species

Species Information

Characteristics

A moderately slender, silvery minnow with very large eyes and a terminal, oblique mouth and no barbels. Back is olive-yellow, the scales are prominently dark-edged. Silvery sides with a prominent dusky stripe; pores of lateral line outlined by dark pigment. Belly silvery-white, fins plain. Breeding males are without bright colors, but have many small tubercles on its head and body. Anal fin with 8 (occasionally 9, rarely 7) rays. Front of dorsal fin is about equal distance between the tip of the snout and base of tail fin. Mid-side with a prominent dusky stripe extending forward from the base of the tail fin to the tip of the snout and chin, stripe bordered above by a light-colored zone in which the scales are not dark-edged. Large mouth, the upper jaw extends past the front of its eye. Dorsal fin high and pointed. Lateral lines scales 34 to 38.

Foods

various aquatic invertebrates and terrestrial insects that fall in the water or fly just above the surface

Expert Tip

The Bigeye Shiner lives in schools in midwater or at the surface. It eats small insects hovering a few inches above the water, jumping into the air to catch them.

Details

The Bigeye Shiner lives in clear streams with large, permanent pools lined with aquatic vegetation, such as water willow, and bottoms made mostly of sand, gravel or rock. In Illinois, the Bigeye Shiner lives in clear, high-gradient streams. In Missouri, its ideal habitat is small creeks along the Ozark border with many warm, quiet pools. Researchers in Tennessee find that the Bigeye Shiner is abundant in clear, cool upland streams. Several investigators note the Bigeye Shiner’s intolerance to siltation and continuous high turbidity.

Recent stream sampling has not resulted in the discovery of any individual Bigeye Shiners.

Sources:

Harlan, J.R., E.B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323pp.

Loan-Wilsey, A. K., C. L. Pierce, K. L. Kane, P. D. Brown and R. L. McNeely. 2005. The Iowa Aquatic Gap Analysis Project Final Report. Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Iowa State University, Ames

Ohio Department of Natural Resources Species Guide

Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri. 372 pp.

Photo credit: Photo courtesy of William Roston, copyright William Roston