Brightly Coloured Fishes听
Fish surveys revealed some attractive spawning fish in the Upper Thames River watershed this spring.听 Of note, a Striped Shiner caught in late May in Stoney Creek in London was one of the most brightly coloured specimens our crew had ever seen! In the Spring, these male Shiners dig nests into gravel. Males have bumps, called nuptial tubercles, on their noses used to construct nests of small stones. 听
Striped Shiner found in Stoney Creek, London, May 24, 2024
Rosyface Shiner is another fish caught in spawning colours.听 These fish spawn in late spring when water temperatures reach 20 to 29 degrees Celsius.听
Rosyface Shiner found in the middle Thames River near Putnam, May 23, 2024
The spawning male Northern Sunfish also displays beautiful colours and makes grunting noises during courtship, likely to attract females.听听听
Northern Sunfish from Flat Creek May 23, 2024
The UTRCA monitors fish along with other living and non-living attributes to understand watershed health and whether conditions are improving, deteriorating or remaining stable.听听听
Contact:听Erin Caroll, UTRCA Aquatic Biologist
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