 Side view adult. Side view adult. Side view adult. Top view adult. Bottom view adult. Head-on view adult. Close-up flank. Close-up head. Close-up mouth and snout. Close-up tail. Close-up dorsal fin. Close-up anal fin. Close-up pectoral fin. Close-up pelvic fin. There are 16-21 gill rakers. Close-up of head: Notice that the mouth is superior. Close-up anal fin: There are 13 anal fin rays, with a range from 11-15. The flanks show rounded scales, and 42-54 in lateral line, which is strongly decurved. Close-up dorsal fin: Notice that the dorsal fin is clear to yellowish with 8 rays, rarely 7 or 9. Close-up underside: There is a scale-less keel between the vent and pelvic fins. Side view of a young-of-year: Juveniles have a less deep body, more silvery color, and a diffuse dark silvery lateral stripe. Close-up head of a young-of-year: Juveniles have a less deep body, more silvery color, and a diffuse dark silvery lateral stripe. Close-up tail of a young-of-year: Juveniles have a less deep body, more silvery color, and a diffuse dark silvery lateral stripe. Side view of a young-of-year: Juveniles have a less deep body, more silvery color, and a diffuse dark silvery lateral stripe. Comparison of rudd (top) and golden shiner (bottom): Notice the larger size and red fins of the rudd.
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Family
Minnows (Cyprinidae)
Body
Mouth and snout: Mouth superior (almost vertical) without any teeth. No barbels. Body patterning, color, and scales: Solid golden, silver, or light olive (but see Juveniles below). Fins without distinctive markings (but see Breeding Adults below). 42-54 cycloid lateral line scales, rounded in shape. Body shape and size: Body deep and laterally compressed; oval in cross-section (but see Juveniles below). Typically 75-175 mm (3-7 in) TL; maximum reported about 300 mm (12 in).
Fins
Tail, dorsal and other fins: Forked tail. Single dorsal fin with 8 rays (rarely 7 or 9) and no spines. Pelvic fins abdominal. No adipose fin. Anal fin with 11-15 rays and no spines.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Fins clear to yellowish (pelvic, anal, and caudal fins may have orange cast in breeding male), dorsal fin rays 8 (rarely 7 or 9), 42-54 (usually more than 44) lateral line scales, 16-21 gill rakers, a scaleless keel between the vent and pelvic fins. See also similar species information.
Breeding Adults
Males – Pelvic, anal, and caudal fins may have orange cast; anal fin may have black margin. Flanks may have minute, difficult-to-see tubercles.
Juveniles
Similar to adults, but less deep-bodied and more fusiform. Many specimens have a silvery black lateral stripe.
Hybrids
None known from Wisconsin.
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Lateral Line | | Rudd | 37-47 rounded scales; lateral line strongly decurved | | Shiner, Common | 34-40 highly elevated scales; lateral line decurved | | Shiner, Golden | 42-54 rounded scales; lateral line strongly decurved | | Shiner, Red | 32-36 diamond-shaped scales; lateral line slightly decurved | | Shiner, Spotfin | 35-39 diamond-shaped scales; lateral line slightly decurved | | Shiner, Striped | 34-40 highly elevated scales; lateral line decurved | Anal Fin | | Rudd | 11-13 rays | | Shiner, Common | Usually 9 rays, rarely 8 or 10 | | Shiner, Golden | 11-15 rays | | Shiner, Red | Usually 9 rays, rarely 8 or 10 | | Shiner, Spotfin | 8 rays | | Shiner, Striped | Usually 9 rays, rarely 8 or 10 | Dorsal Fin | | Rudd | 9-11 rays; membranes lack dark pigment but fin (including membranes) is red in adults | | Shiner, Common | 8 rays; membranes generally unpigmented, rays outlined with dark pigment in breeding males | | Shiner, Golden | 8 rays (rarely 7 or 9); membranes generally unpigmented; fin light olive or yellowish | | Shiner, Red | 8 rays; all membranes with uniform dark pigment | | Shiner, Spotfin | 8 rays; membranes of last 2-3 rays pigmented; blotch-like in adults, a few speckles in juveniles | | Shiner, Striped | 8 rays; membranes generally unpigmented, rays outlined with dark pigment in breeding adults | Other Diagnostic Features | | Rudd | Scaled keel in front of vent; 8-13 gill rakers | | Shiner, Common | Usually 25-32 (21-37) predorsal scales; little chin pigment | | Shiner, Golden | Scaleless keel in front of vent; 16-21 gill rakers | | Shiner, Red | Snout blunter and body deeper than spotfin shiner | | Shiner, Spotfin | Snout more pointed and body not as deep as red shiner
Snout more pointed and body not as deep as red shiner | | Shiner, Striped | Usually 16-19 (13-23) predorsal scales; chin 1/3 pigmented | Similarity Index | | Rudd | Very similar | | Shiner, Common | Moderately similar | | Shiner, Golden | N/A | | Shiner, Red | Moderately similar | | Shiner, Spotfin | Moderately similar | | Shiner, Striped | Moderately similar | Comments | | Rudd | Not established in WI. There is a very slight chance that a survivor from past bait-bucket introductions may be encountered. | | Shiner, Red | Not native to WI; may occur here as a stray from populations further south. |
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