Emerald shiner

Emerald shiner
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Leuciscidae
Subfamily: Pogonichthyinae
Genus: Notropis
Species:
N. atherinoides
Binomial name
Notropis atherinoides
Synonyms
  • Minnilus dinemus Rafinesque, 1820
  • Alburnus nitidus Kirtland, 1854
  • Alburnus acutus Lapham, 1854
  • Alburnus dilectus Girard, 1856
  • Alburnus lepidulus Girard, 1856
  • Alburnus oligaspis Cope, 1865
  • Alburnellus jaculus Cope, 1867
  • Leuciscus copii Günther, 1868
  • Notropis louisianae Evermann, 1898

The emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, the shiners, daces and minnows. The identifying characteristic of the emerald shiner is the silvery emerald color on its sides. It is found across North America from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, commonly in large, deep lakes and rivers, though sometimes in smaller bodies of water as well. It feeds on small organisms such as zooplankton and insects, congregating in large groups near the surface of the water. It is a quite common fish and is often used as a bait fish.