The bleeding shiner (''Luxilus zonatus'') is a freshwater ray-finned

minnow Minnow is the common name for a number of species of small freshwater fish, belonging to several genera of the families Cyprinidae and Leuciscidae. They are also known in Ireland as pinkeens. Smaller fish in the subfamily Leusciscidae are c ...

in the family ''

Leuciscidae Leuciscinae is a subfamily of the freshwater fish family Cyprinidae, which contains the true minnows. Members of the Old World (OW) clade of minnows within this subfamily are known as European minnows. As the name suggests, most members of the O ...

'', which was recently changed to distinguish between North American and Asian minnows. It occurs in tributaries of Ozark-draining tributaries of the

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

, and

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

rivers in southern

and northeastern

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

. Its preferred habitat is rocky and sandy pools and runs of headwaters, creeks and small rivers.

Taxonomy

Class: Actinopterygii, Order: Cypriniformes, Family: ''Leuciscidae'', Genus: ''Luxilus'', Species: ''L. zonatus''. The bleeding shiner was originally known to be classified as the ''Alburnus zonatus'' by Agassiz in 1863. Formerly known to be in the genus ''Notropis'', but removed and added to the genus ''Luxilus'' in 1989. Originally the now distinct species of ''L. zonatus'' and ''N. Pilsbryi'' were considered to be synonymous, but after carefully observing the morphological evidence they were added to the ''Luxilus'' genus.

Description

The bleeding shiner has an olive brown back with a broad dark stripe along its midline. It has metallic sides and has two black stripes that are separated with a golden stripe. One of these black strips extends to the tip of the snout, while another less obvious black stripe parallels it. The gill opening has a crescent-bar shape and the fish has a silvery white underside. A key difference between this fish and similar minnows is the stripe on the side of the bleeding shiner abruptly narrows directly after the operculum, then widens again down the length of the body to the caudal fin. This fish holds many similarities with the ''L. pilsbryi'', but is distinguishable with a few characteristics. ''L. zonatus'' has 9 anal rays, 7 gill rakers, 38-43 lateral line scales, and 26 circumferential scales. The origin of the dorsal fin is closer to the tip of the snout than the base of the caudal. The bleeding shiner has a slightly compressed body with relatively large fins for its body size. Breeding males have bright red markings on their head, body, and fins, and the rest of their markings appear darker. The bleeding shiner has an average total length of about 4 in (10 cm) and has a maximum total length of 4.75 in (12 cm).

Distribution and habitat

The Bleeding Shiner is endemic to Missouri and Arkansas where it is restricted to the

Ozark Plateau The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and the extreme southeastern corner of Kansas. The Ozarks cover a significant porti ...

of Missouri and northeast Arkansas. Bleeding shiner inhabits Ozark-draining tributaries of the Missouri River and the St. Francis,

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...

, Little, and Meramec Rivers. Bleeding shiners inhabit temperate climate regions. Bleeding shiners prefer clear, gravel-bottomed streams and rivers. They have (very rarely) been found in streams with beds of mud, however. They are a demersal fish, they prefer to live close to the bed of the rivers and steams they inhabit. The young tend to inhabit waters that are quieter and flow more gently than the adult shiners. See sidebar

Diet

The bleeding shiner feeds upon insects and small invertebrates that can be found upon the water's surface or that are being carried by the current. Bleeding shiners have terminal oblique mouths that allow for them to easily eat food from the surface of the water. It is thought that the bleeding shiner searches for food primarily by sight because of its large eyes.

Behaviors

Reproduction

Spawning Spawn is the eggs and sperm released or deposited into water by aquatic animals. As a verb, ''to spawn'' refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, and the act of both sexes is called spawning. Most aquatic animals, except for aquat ...

usually occurs over gravel nests and pits that have been made by other fish, namely those of other minnows. Anywhere from a few to a hundred gather in these locations while spawning. Spawning in Missouri occurs from late April to early July, but hits a peak in late May and June. During breeding season, the males present with breeding tubercles that are largest on the head, but also present on the fins and the front of the fish’s body. Bleeding shiners are oviparous, meaning that the eggs are laid by the mother and then unattended afterwards.

Schooling Behavior

Bleeding Shiners are found in communities, in the midwater. They swim together in schools along with other types of minnows for protection and safety. The bleeding shiner prefers to reside in slow flowing streams and rivers that are less than 8 inches deep.

Life history

Bleeding shiners rarely live through three summers. The lifespan of this fish is three years.

Human interest

They are not dangerous to humans. Can be used as bait fish for catching larger, carnivorous sport fish. Since the bleeding shiner has vibrant red fins during breeding season they are commonly used in freshwater aquariums.

Conservation

Trends over the last three generations (10 years) indicates that the population may be slowly declining. This is uncertain, however. It is abundant throughout its range. Bleeding shiners have been known to invade some areas, such as the Clear Creek system.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5573529 Luxilus Freshwater fish of the United States Fish described in 1863 Endemic fauna of Arkansas Ozarks