Range and Identity
Notropis bairdi is the identity retained for Red River Shiner. Its named river system spans parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The common name should not be used for every shiner found in a river called Red, particularly outside the documented central United States drainage.
Habitat and Behavior
Adults occur in turbid main-channel habitat over sand. This setting differs from a clear vegetated backwater or a rocky tributary, even when those habitats are nearby. Notes on current, visibility and substrate provide a more specific description than a river name alone.
Food and Life History
Terrestrial insects appear in the food account. Their presence shows that feeding need not depend solely on animals developing on the river bottom. The upper length reference is eight centimeters total length, with no maximum weight or detailed spawning calendar inferred from another shiner.
Field Note
Include whether a collection came from the main channel or a tributary. That distinction helps preserve the sandy, turbid river context associated with this species.
All Lakes With Red River Shiner
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Red River Shiner records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.