Mountain Shiner (Lythrurus lirus)

Composite image of a male Mountain Shiner (Lythrurus lirus), photographed on the Little River, Blount Co, TN

comments (3)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

What are the dot-like structures on its head? Posted 7 years ago
1. Anotheca
  
  Lion
  
  The spines develop during the reproductive period. They can have different uses depending on the species. For example, in some species, males use the spines to hold position against a female in order to properly fertilize their eggs. In other species, males use them for competitive behaviors where they will ram one another for dominance of a key reproductive microhabitat or directly for the attention of a female ready to spawn. The conical spines like these are present only just before and during the breeding season. From above, the fishes look like they have a blue patch on their heads - its the color of the mass of spines through the water. Very beautiful to see in the wild. Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Excellent info, thanks so much. Was wondering if any bio-luminescence was involved :) Posted 7 years ago

The Mountain shiner

the mountain shiner is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee. The species is that not much data has been collected on in the years past. With a monitoring plan that could change. It is found in three main states Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. In Tennessee and Alabama the species is located in common rivers, and in Virginia the species can be found in drainages in Virginia, Tennessee and Northwestern Georgia.

Info 1 0

Similar species: Carps, Minnows And Loaches

Species identified by Christine Young

By Anotheca

Uploaded Jul 1, 2018. Captured Jun 22, 2018 06:21 in 4223 Smoot Ln, Louisville, TN 37777, USA.

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SLT-A77V
f/16.0
1/125s
ISO80
100mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.