Home · Cyprinidae · Alabama shiner
Alabama shiner (Cyprinella callistia) — Cyprinidae

Alabama shiner

Cyprinella callistia
Family: Cyprinidae

The Alabama shiner (Cyprinella callistia) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Alabama shiner is a small minnow (Leuciscidae) from fresh water of the southeastern United States, in the Mobile basin. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a slender, silvery, laterally compressed body; courting males often turn bluish or yellow. As a schooling fish it lives in clear, flowing streams and rivers and eats small insects, larvae and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Alabama shiner?

The Alabama shiner has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Alabama shiner live?

The Alabama shiner lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Alabama shiner get?

The Alabama shiner grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Alabama shiner dangerous to humans?

No, the Alabama shiner is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Alabama-shiner sourced
English name
Alabama shiner sourced
Scientific name
Cyprinella callistia
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Alabama shiner verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Cyprinella

More from the family Cyprinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →