SCIENTIFIC NAME: Luxilus chrysocephalus Characteristics: The
striped shiner has a deep head and compressed body. Its large
scales are generally much higher than they are wide on the
sides, and the pigment on some scales forms crescent-shaped
bars. The back has distinct parallel bars running lengthwise and
ending in a V at the caudal fin. Breeding males turn rose red
color on the snout, lower head, and venter, while their sides
become scarlet. Dorsal and caudal fins are flushed with yellow,
and the paired fins and anal fin are pink to scarlet with clear
margins. Individuals taken outside the breeding season have
little color. ADULT SIZE: 2.6 to 5.9 in (65 to 150 mm)
DISTRIBUTION: This species occurs from the southern Great Lakes
region south to Gulf slope drainages, east to the Ohio river
basin, and west to Texas and the Ozark Mountains. Two subspecies
of Luxilus chrysocephalus are recognized: the northern striped
shiner, L. c. chrysocephalus, which occurs from the Tennessee
River drainage in Alabama north of