Eastern shiners (Notropis)
General data
- Main name: Eastern shiners
Classification
- Family: Leuciscidae - Chub family
- Order: Cypriniformes - Carps
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Notropis is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are known commonly as eastern shiners. They are native to North America, and are the continents second largest genus. A 1997 phylogenetic analysis placed the genus in a clade with Campostoma, Cyprinella, Phenacobius, Platygobio and Rhinichthys. The systematics of the genus is still unclear. It has not been confirmed to be monophyletic. While it has been divided into several subgenera and species groups, the relationships between the taxa are not yet understood. Members of the genus Notropis have eight dorsal rays and usually have no barbel (with the exception of Redeye chub). Scales for most species are not usually that much taller than they are wide. Their scales are usually not diamond shaped. Their intestines are short and usually have one loop at the front. There are currently 88 recognized species in this genus.