Cyprinella venusta Girard, 1856
Blacktail shiner
Cyprinella venusta
photo by Casten, L.

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Pogonichthyinae
Max. size:  19 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: Gulf drainages from Suwannee River in Georgia and Florida to Rio Grande in Texas, USA; Mississippi River basin (mostly on Former Mississippi Embayment) from southern Illinois and Missouri to Louisiana and west in Red River drainage to western Oklahoma, USA. Introduced into Sac River (Missouri River drainage) in Missouri.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Usually found in sandy pools and runs of small to medium rivers. Also occurs in creeks and rocky pools and runs (Ref. 5723, 86798). Adult feeds on surface insects (Ref. 10294).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 November 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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