Cyprinidae

Cardinal shiner

Luxilus cardinalis

Carp Recorded in North American Waters

• Red
• Temperate
• Northern Hemisphere
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• North America
• Small
• Temperate fish

The cardinal shiner (Luxilus cardinalis) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, the shiners, daces and minnows. It occurs from the Arkansas River drainage in southwestern Missouri, northwestern Arkansas, eastern Kansas and eastern Oklahoma to the Red River drainage in southeastern Oklahoma, where it was probably introduced. Its preferred habitat is rocky and sandy pools and runs of headwaters, creeks and small rivers.