Species profile
Common Shiner
Luxilus cornutus
At a glance
Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 4,029 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Minnesota, and Wisconsin the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- One of the most abundant freshwater minnows in eastern North America, found in thousands of waterways.
- During spawning season, males develop small bony bumps called tubercles on their heads and snouts.
- Typically 3 to 6 inches long, they are a widely used live bait fish for bass fishing.
- Like striped shiners, common shiners spawn on creek chub nests rather than excavating their own.
- Highly adaptable, they thrive in streams, rivers, and lakes across a broad range of water conditions.
Where Common Shiner are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Common Shiner
Background
The common shiner (Luxilus cornutus) is a freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family, found in North America. It ranges in length between 4 and 6 inches, although they can reach lengths of up to 8 inches.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Common Shiner article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.