The sand shiner (Notropis stramineus) is a widespread North American species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae.

[9] Each pore within the lateral line system, is also accented with paired melanophores which creates the appearance of a thin midlateral strip.

[12] Sand Shiners tend to seek areas deeper than 20 cm which have little to no aquatic vegetation and a slow-moving current.

[9] Habitats with acidic or alkaline conditions are avoided, however, in the Southwest, pH values of around 8.0 are common in streams which Sand Shiners occupy.

During spawning season in August, sand shiners form large schools in shallow water which has a slight current and a sandy bottom.

In late summer and fall, the sand shiners tend to move into shallow water over a rubble bottom during dusk.

[3] Overall, this species is an opportunistic feeder primarily taking bottom particulate matter, as well as plant material and terrestrial and aquatic insects.

[9] More explicitly, their summer diet consists of bottom ooze (68% of volume), aquatic nymphs and larvae, Ephemeroptera nymphs, Tricoptera larvae, adult terrestrial insects, adult and emerging Ephemeroptera, dipterans, corixids, and a small amount of plant matter.

[11][18] The total reproductive period of sand shiners extends from May or June through August with slight variation in time of spawning depending upon latitude.