Blue shiner | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Subfamily: | Leuciscinae |
Clade: | Pogonichthyinae |
Genus: | Cyprinella |
Species: | C. caerulea |
Binomial name | |
Cyprinella caerulea (Jordan, 1877) | |
Synonyms | |
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The blue shiner (Cyprinella caerulea) is a species of fish in the carp family. It is native to the southeastern United States, where it is endemic to the Cahaba and Coosa River systems of the Mobile River Basin. This is a federally listed threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of the United States. [2]
C. caerulea is endemic to the basin of the Mobile River. Because of population declines, it is now restricted to the Coosa River system in four disjunct populations in northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee. [3]
Within the Coosa River system, the fish was native to Choccolocco Creek, the Little River, Weogufka Creek, and Big Wills Creek in Alabama; the Coosawattee River the Oostanaula River in Georgia, and the Conasauga River in Georgia and Tennessee. The causes of the population declines are not fully clear, but they are likely due to the degradation of habitat and water degradation caused by urbanization, pollution, and sedimentation. [4] The extirpation from the Cahaba River in Alabama could be due to extensive urban development. [5] Efforts are currently being made to reverse the effects of habitat and water degradation. If they are successful, the blue shiner may be delisted.
The blue shiner is a temperate, freshwater fish that occupies benthopelagic zones in streams. [6] It occurs in second to fourth order streams with a moderate to low river currents, favoring sand and gravel substrates, and sometimes cobble. It generally remains at depths of 0.15 to 1 meter. It requires clear waters for feeding, because it is a visual drift feeder, taking invertebrates from the drift of the water column. Excess sedimentation in the habitat has an adverse effect on the fish, hindering its ability to feed. [7]
The spawning behavior of this species is similar to that of C. trichroistia and C. gibbsi. A single male will protect a territory and females arrive to deposit eggs. [8] During spawning, the female forcefully sprays eggs into crevices. It does not engage in parental care. Adequate water flows are required to remove debris and sediment, keeping open the crevices that the fish requires for egg deposition. [7] Clear waters are also required for the females to visualize the males, which perform displays to attract them. [9]
The spawning season of the blue shiner starts in early May and ends in late August. It may produce more than one clutch per season. The life span of the fish is about three years, with two-year-old individuals producing the most spawn. [3]
With water degradation being one of the main reasons for decline, conservation activities are focused on improving water quality. Construction near waterways should be reduced, as should dam-building and water pollution. [9]
Currently, the largest population of C. caerulea is in the Conasauga River. [10] This has become the focus of conservation efforts and research. Estimations of abundance are made by assessing individual subpopulations. Research activities include sampling using electrofishing and netting. [11]
The goldline darter is a small species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in the United States, primarily in the Cahaba River in central Alabama and the Coosa River in Georgia and Alabama. It is a small fish seldom exceeding 3 in (7.6 cm) in length. It is typically found in areas with moderate to swift currents and a water depth of over 2 ft (60 cm), in the main channels of free-flowing rivers with a rock, cobble or boulder base and aquatic plants. It has been federally listed as a threatened species since April 22, 1992, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being "vulnerable".
The amber darter is a small, endangered species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is native to the Conasauga River and Etowah River in Georgia and Tennessee in the United States. It typically inhabits riffle areas over gravel and sand bottoms, hiding in aquatic vegetation when present. It feeds on small invertebrates and probably breeds between late fall and early spring. It is an uncommon fish with a small range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being "endangered".
The Cahaba shiner is a rare species of cyprinid fish. It is endemic to Alabama in the United States, where it is limited to the Cahaba River. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
The trispot darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to northern Georgia and southern Tennessee in the United States, where it occurs in the Conasauga River and its tributaries and historically in the Alabama River system. It requires two interconnecting habitats; outside the breeding season it occupies the peripheral zones of the main river, with slow-moving water and silt gravel substrates with vegetation cover; during the breeding season it moves to warmer water with a clay-bottomed substrate with much vegetation. The population of this fish is declining due to loss of suitable habitat because of stream impoundment and land development. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "vulnerable".
The frecklebelly madtom is a species of fish in the family Ictaluridae endemic to the United States. Madtoms are in the genus Noturus, which is a group of catfish prevalent in North America. In 2023, the Upper Coosa River distinct population segment (DPS) of N. munitus was listed as federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The Conasauga logperch is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the United States. It is one of 184 species of darters in North America. It has been listed as endangered throughout its range with critical habitat under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since August 5, 1985.
Leptoxis ampla, common name the round rocksnail, is a species of freshwater snail with a gill and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Pleuroceridae.
The painted rocksnail is a species of freshwater snail with a gill and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Pleuroceridae.
The cylindrical lioplax, scientific name Lioplax cyclostomaformis, is a species of freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Viviparidae.
The popeye shiner is a North American species of freshwater cyprinid fish.
The rainbow shiner is a North American species of ray-finned fish in the genus Notropis.
The Alabama shiner is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is endemic to the United States where it occurs in the Alabama and Tombigbee river systems in Alabama, Georgia, eastern Mississippi, and extreme southeastern Tennessee.
The red shiner or red-horse minnow is a North American species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are deep-bodied and laterally compressed, and can grow to about three inches in length. For most of the year, both males and females have silver sides and whitish abdomens. Males in breeding coloration, though, have iridescent pink-purple-blue sides and a red crown and fins.
The blacktail shiner is a small freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae native to the United States.
The holiday darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in the southeast US water system, with disjunctive populations throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. It is also located in the Coosa River / Choccolocco Creek watershed which begins in Tennessee and far west Georgia, then enters Alabama. Its diet, close to other members of the subgenus Ulocentra, consists of small insects, including midges, black fly larvae, and small crustaceans. The two subspecies inhabit small to medium-sized gradient-rich streams. They are often found in fast-moving streams with large boulders, gravel, cobbles, and sand. They can be found in the margins between these large boulders, and use the boulders for protection from predators and for the females to attach eggs. The holiday darter has very vibrant coloration, but will display even more brilliant coloration during or before spawning. Spawning takes place during the spring, usually around April or May. This species is state listed in Georgia as threatened. One of the disjunct populations is located in the Talladega National Forest, which results in it being protected from human encroachment. The separate populations can make it difficult to determine the exact population count.
The goldstripe darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the southeastern United States where it is found in Gulf Slope streams from the Colorado River drainage in Texas to the Flint River in Georgia, the Atlantic Slope in Ocmulgee River system, Georgia, and the Mississippi embayment north as far as southeastern Missouri and western Kentucky. It is typically found in small springs, streams, and creeks with aquatic and marginal vegetation and detritus. The female spawns on multiple occasions between about mid-March and June, sticking the adhesive eggs to plants, gravel and the sides of rocks. The goldstripe darter is a common species with a wide range and numerous sub-populations, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
The Mobile logperch is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is found in the Mobile River basin in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia in the southeastern United States. It inhabits clear shallow water and is often associated with Podostemum (riverweed). It grows to about 18 cm (7 in) and is distinguishable from other darters by the distinctive shape of its head and by its pale-yellow base color, with narrow bars on back and sides. It feeds on small invertebrates and breeds between February and May. Lake fish move into small streams to spawn. It is a common fish with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Spotfin chub is a ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae that is endemic to the Tennessee River watershed. Its other common names include turquoise shiner and chromium shiner.
The Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin is a drainage basin (watershed) in the Southeastern United States. The basin is located mainly in eastern Alabama, but also goes includes a small part of Georgia. This area is classified as a sub-region by the USGS hydrological code system.
The Altamaha shiner is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is endemic to the Piedmont region of Georgia, where it occurs in the upper areas of the Altamaha River drainage area, primarily above the Fall Line in north-central Georgia.