Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus) - Native

12 cm common shiner.

A 5-inch common shiner in spawning color.

Identification. Adults deeper-bodied than many shiners; juveniles more streamlined. Snout somewhat blunt. Forked tail. No distinctive markings. Anal rays 9. Thin, faint dusky parallel lines on back. Dorsal fin origin in front of or directly above origin of pelvic fin. Large (about 44-50 along lateral line), loose scales (often with missing patches). Grayish above fading to silvery on sides and white on belly. During spawning, fins often have impressive reddish margins and entire pectoral fin may be reddish to orange.

Common shiner.

A typical 4-inch common shiner looks at first glance to be simply a "generic" shiner.

Size. Commonly 2 to 5 inches. State survey max. size 6.3 inches. Max. reported size 7 inches.

Distribution. Widely distributed in North America east of the Rockies. In Connecticut, common shiners are found in almost all drainages, with the exception of many coastal streams. Where found, they are typically common in abundance. 

Common shiner distribution map.

Habits. Prefer cool, clear waters of small streams to medium-sized rivers, where they are typically found in pool areas. They are rarely found in lakes. Can be easily caught on very small hooks baited with bits of worm. Easy to keep in home aquariums, but are relatively fragile.

Comments. Having no obvious distinctive characteristics, a common shiner appears to most people at first glance to be simply a “generic” shiner. For this reason, in Connecticut this species is easiest for beginners to identify by process of elimination — in other words, if it isn’t one of the other shiners, it is probably a common shiner.

8 cm common shiner swimming.

Smaller (3 inches or less) common shiners are more slender than the adults.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store. The fish distribution maps were created in 2009. For updated fish distributions please use the CT DEEP Fish Community Data Interactive Map.