Cyprinella spiloptera

Cyprinella spiloptera, the spotfin shiner is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Leuciscidae, the shiners, daces and minnows. It is a small sized freshwater fish found abundantly in many watercourses of North America.

Distribution

Cyprinela spiloptera inhabit all but one of the Great Lakes (Superior), and are found from the Saint Lawrence drainage, Quebec to the Potomac river drainage, Virginia. They also inhabit areas from Ontario and New York to North Dakota, as well as south to Alabama and eastern regions of Oklahoma. C. spiloptera are also located in isolated areas of the Ozark mountains. C. spiloptera are freshwater, benthopologic fishes that prefer temperate climates. They inhabit sand and gravel runs and pools of creeks, as well as small to medium rivers with clear, permanent flow.

Behaviour

Adult C. spiloptera prey on surface insects and immature aquatic organisms.