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Bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) — Cyprinidae

Bigeye shiner

Notropis boops
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The bigeye shiner is a small, slender cyprinid from the central and southern United States. The species grows to about 9 cm and has an elongate, silvery body with conspicuously large eyes and a dark lengthwise stripe. It inhabits flowing, usually clear and rocky pools of creeks and small to medium rivers and often stays near emergent bank vegetation. In schools it feeds mainly on insects at the water surface. The species has no commercial value and is completely harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bigeye shiner?

The Bigeye shiner has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Bigeye shiner live?

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

How big does the Bigeye shiner get?

The Bigeye shiner grows to a maximum of about 9 cm. On average the species is around 5 cm.

Is the Bigeye shiner dangerous to humans?

No, the Bigeye shiner is harmless to humans.

Is the Bigeye shiner edible?

The Bigeye shiner is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grootoog-elrits sourced
English name
Bigeye shiner verified
Scientific name
Notropis boops
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Bigeye shiner verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 verified
Average length (cm)
4.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Notropis

More from the family Cyprinidae

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