One of the defining features of a spottail shiner is the black spot found at the base of the caudal fin.

The defining feature of a spottail shiner is the distinct black spot at the base of the caudal fin.

[4] Notropis species mainly live in streams and rivers but can be found in larger lakes.

[5] These spottail shiners seem to have only occupied the areas of Canada and United States that they are currently distributed today, with the exception of Montana.

It seems that the shiners have been introduced in lakes through Montana in order to become bait for some of the larger gaming fish such as the walleye.

[3] Spottail shiners are generally omnivorous fish that feed on plants, aquatic invertebrate, and zoobenthos.

The spottail shiner obtains much of its food by scavenging on the floor of the river, lakes, and streams that it occupies.

Spottail shiners breeding season usually occurs in the summertime during the months of June and July.

[6] They are thought to spawn in the sandy bottoms and shorelines of the rivers, lakes, and creeks where they live.

[3] Their shiny scales and small bodies attract specific species of game fish that anglers frequently try to catch.

[10] It is found that water pollution from wastewater and runoff affect the immune system of spottail shiners.