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Highfin shiner (Notropis altipinnis) — Cyprinidae

Highfin shiner

Notropis altipinnis
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Highfin shiner (Notropis altipinnis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.1 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The highfin shiner is a small North American cyprinid from the Atlantic slope of the southeastern United States. The species reaches about 6 cm, has a slender, silvery body with a dark lateral stripe and owes its name to the relatively tall dorsal fin. It inhabits pools and sometimes faster runs of sandy and rocky creeks and small to medium rivers, where it lives in schools in the open water column. The diet consists mainly of aquatic and surface-caught insects. Because of its small size the species has no fishery value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Highfin shiner?

The Highfin shiner has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Highfin shiner live?

The Highfin shiner lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Highfin shiner get?

The Highfin shiner grows to a maximum of about 6 cm. On average the species is around 4 cm.

Is the Highfin shiner dangerous to humans?

No, the Highfin shiner is harmless to humans.

Is the Highfin shiner edible?

The Highfin shiner is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Hoogvin-shiner sourced
English name
Highfin shiner verified
Scientific name
Notropis altipinnis
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.1 verified
Average length (cm)
4.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Notropis

More from the family Cyprinidae

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