The orangetail shiner (''Pteronotropis merlini'') is a species of

cyprinid Cyprinidae is a family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family. It includes the carps, the true minnows, and relatives like the barbs and barbels. Cyprinidae is the largest and most diverse fish family and the largest verte ...

fish

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the southeastern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. It is endemic to in the

Choctawhatchee River The Choctawhatchee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map , accessed 15 April 2011 river in the southern United States, flowing through southeast Alabama and the Panhandle o ...

drainage in southeastern

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

Description

The fish is similar to the

sailfin shiner The sailfin shiner (''Pteronotropis hypselopterus'') is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to the southeastern United States. Description The sailfin shiner has a deep and compressed body, with a narrow base for the caudal fin. Its lateral line ...

. It has a very deep and compressed body. It has between 35 and 42 scales along the lateral line. It has a maximum total length of 6.5 cm (2.5 in). It usually has 10 anal rays. Breeding males have a chevron-shaped black blotch at the origin of the caudal fin separated from a dark black stripe along the side, and have orange caudal and anal fins.

Distribution and habitat

The fish is the only fish found exclusively in Alabama, primarily upland in the Choctawhatchee River system before it merges with the

Pea River The Pea River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 15, 2011 tributary of the Choctawhatchee River near Geneva, Alabama, United States. It is a popular destination ...

. Orangetail shiners are found in sand-bottomed and silt-bottomed creeks and small rivers. It is often found among debris and undercut banks. It is found in bodies with reduced current, usually under overhanging banks or overhanging vegetation, or around roots or stumps. The fish prefers temperatures from 12°C (54°F) to 23°C (73°F).

References

Cyprinid fish of North America Fish of the United States Fish described in 2001 Pteronotropis {{Leuciscinae-stub