Habitat Suitability Information: Common Shiner

The range of the common shiner (Notropis cornutus) extends from the Atlantic coast west through southern Great Lakes drainages to the eastern Dakotas. It is widely distributed in streams and lakes along the Atlantic coast, from Nova Scotia south to the James River system in Virginia. Populations are found as far north as southeastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. In this report we consider Notropis cornutus specifically distinct from Notropis chrysocephalus.

Common shiners are omnivorous, feeding on nearly equal amounts of plant and animal matter. Water level variation is a major factor explaining feeding variability. Increased turbidity reduced the availability of insect larvae, resulting in an increase in the intake of plant matter Common shiners feed readily on the bottom, in the water column, and at the surface. Shiners of all sizes consume the same types of food.