1. 8 or more anal rays

1. 7 anal rays; posterior half of body with lateral band; dorsal stripe forms triangle before dorsal fin, not extending around fin .............................................................................................................................

N. stramineus

Sand Shiner

2. 8 anal rays.........................................................................................................................................

3

2. 9 or more anal rays............................................................................................................................

7

3. Dark blotch on membrane between posterior rays of dorsal fin.........................................................................................................................................................

N. spilopterus

Spotfin Shiner

3. No blotch on membrane between posterior rays of dorsal fin........................................................................................................................................................

4

4. Black lateral stripe continuing across head and around snout; chin not pigmented.............................................................................................................................................

N. heterolepis

Blacknose Shiner

4. No lateral stripe...............................................................................................................................

5

5. Anterior lateral line scales not vertically elongated............................................................................................................................................

N. dorsalis

Bigmouth Shiner

5. Anterior lateral line scales vertically elongated............................................................................................................................................

6

6. Infraorbital canal lacking; melanophores of lateral line inconspicuous; body color pale....................................................................................................................................................

N. buchanani

Ghost Shiner

6. Complete infraorbital canal; melanophores of lateral line conspicuous; body color darker...............................................................................................................................................

N. volucellus

Mimic Shiner

7. 9 anal rays....................................................................................................................................

8

7. 10 or more anal rays.....................................................................................................................

9

8. Scales anterior to dorsal fin small in irregular rows above lateral line...................................................................................................................................................

N. cornutus

Common Shiner

8. Scales anterior to dorsal fin large in regular rows above lateral line...................................................................................................................................................

N. chrysocephalus

Striped Shiner

9. Black blotch at forward base of dorsal fin; body deepest anterior to dorsal fin...................................................................................................................................................

N. umbratilis

Redfin Shiner

9. No black blotch at forward base of dorsal fin..............................................................................

10

10. 9 pelvic rays.............................................................................................................................

N. photogenis

Silver Shiner

10. 8 pelvic rays............................................................................................................................

11

11. Long, pointed snout.................................................................................................................

N. rubellus

Rosyface Shiner

11. Short, blunt snout....................................................................................................................

N. atherinoides

Emerald Shiner