Redlip shiner
| Redlip shiner | |
|---|---|
| File:Redlip Shiner.png | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Genus: | Notropis |
| Species: | N. chiliticus
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| Binomial name | |
| Notropis chiliticus (Cope, 1870)
| |
The redlip shiner (Notropis chiliticus) is a North American species of freshwater cyprinid fish. This shiner can be found in a few streams located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. It inhabits rocky pools of clear headwaters, creeks and small rivers. Adults range in length from 40 to 55 mm (1.6 to 2.2 in.)
Description
The Redlip Shiner is characterized by bright red lips with a similar coloration in the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. The body is slender and compressed, with the dorsal fin origin slightly behind pelvic fin origin. The muzzle is acuminate and greater than the interorbital width. The maxiallry extends beyond anterior rim of orbit and the premaxillaries are opposite of the middle of the pupil. They have large eyes and a slightly subterminal mouth. The pharyngeal tooth count for the redlip shiner is 2, 4-4, 2. The length of the body, not including the caudal fin, is four times the length of the head and five and half times the body depth. These shiners have around 34-37 lateral scales and seven rows of scales between the base of the dorsal fin and lateral line. They usually have eight or nine anal rays.
An olivaceous color is dominant in redlip shiners, along with scattered black blotches on the side of the body. Mature males become very colorful during breeding season. They obtain a scarlet red color in their eyes and on their underbelly, while their heads become a bright yellow-gold. Male's fins also become a bright yellow-gold color and the red of their lips seems more pronounced during this time.
References