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Whitemouth shiner (Notropis alborus) — Cyprinidae

Whitemouth shiner

Notropis alborus
Family: Cyprinidae

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

Length
6 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

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Description

The whitemouth shiner is a North American minnow (Leuciscidae) from clear streams and rivers of the southeastern United States. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a dark lengthwise stripe and a light, white mouth. As a social schooling fish it swims in the water column and snaps at insect larvae, small plankton and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whitemouth shiner?

The Whitemouth shiner has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Whitemouth shiner live?

The Whitemouth shiner lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Whitemouth shiner get?

The Whitemouth shiner grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Whitemouth shiner dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitemouth shiner is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Whitemouth shiner (Notropis alborus) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) indianaspeciesfishing, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Whitemouth shiner (Notropis alborus) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Bradley Rasmussen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Whitemouth shiner (Notropis alborus) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Cameron Layne, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Whitemouth shiner (Notropis alborus) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Nick Viole, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Whitemouth shiner sourced
Scientific name
Notropis alborus
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Notropis

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

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