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Sand Shiner
Notropis stramineus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): SNA
External links
General information
The sand shiner, Notropis stramineus, is a small minnow that is currently found in parts of the Colorado River system, even though the species is not native to Utah. The native range of the sand shiner includes much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.
The sand shiner is an opportunistic feeder that eats many small items, including insects, insect larvae, zooplankton, algae, and detritus. Sand shiner spawning peaks in mid-summer, and usually occurs in shallow water over vegetation or sandy substrate.
Species range
St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins from St. Lawrence River (southern Quebec) to eastern Saskatchewan, and south to Tennessee and Texas, west to eastern Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico; Gulf Slope drainages from Trinity River to Rio Grande, Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico; one of the most common shiners (Page and Burr 1991).
Migration
May make seasonal movements between rivers and tributary creeks (Becker 1983).
Habitat
In streams ranging from small spring discharges to large rivers; found rarely in upland areas. Usually associated with sandy substrate in areas with little or no aquatic vegetation and moderate to slow current (runs and pools). Avoids unsheltered locations and clean, unstable sand substrate. Also occupies sandy margins of lakes. May move into shallower water during the day. Spawns in shallows among submerged vegetation in Wisconsin (Becker 1983), in shallow water over sandy substrate in New Mexico (Sublette et al. 1990).
Food habits
Eats various aquatic and terrestral invertebrates (especially chironomids), algae, and (mainly) bottom particulate matter (Becker 1983). Winter diet mostly chironomids larvae and mayfly and stonefly naiads (Ohio, see Sublette et al. 1990).
Ecology
A schooling species.
Reproductive characteristics
Spawns in late spring and summer (peak July-August), mostly at age I and II (Becker 1983). Maximum longevity 3 years.
Threats or limiting factors
Localized threats may exist, but on a range-wide scale no major threats are known.
References
- Biotics Database. 2005. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, NatureServe, and the network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers.
- Sigler, W. F. and J. W. Sigler. 1996. Fishes of Utah[:] a natural history. University of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 375 pp.
