Species Profile: Hydrophlox chrosomus

Common Name:   Rainbow Shiner Minnow

Species Photo by: www.predatoryfins.com

Description:   The rainbow shiner (Hydrophlox chrosomus) is a species of freshwater cool water fishes belonging to the family Leuciscidae, the shiners, daces and minnows. This fish is found in North America. The rainbow shiner has a length of 5 to 8 centimeters. It has translucent color from pink to golden with a silver-black stripe along its flanks. The base of its fins are of a reddish color. Adult males change their color during the mating period. Their ventral fins become blue, their head turns purple and their nose turns red.

Category:   All Others

Global Region:   North America

Distribution:   Endemic to the Mobile River system, where it can be found in small clear rivers of drainage areas of the Alabama, Coosa and Black Warrior rivers