Blue chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue chub |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gila
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| Species: |
coerulea
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The blue chub (Gila coerulea) is a type of fish that belongs to the carp family. You can find it in the Klamath River and Lost River areas. These rivers are located in northern California and southern Oregon.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The blue chub is quite slender, which means it's thin compared to other fish in its family. It has bigger eyes than most chubs. Its mouth is at the very front of its head and opens forward. This mouth reaches almost to the front edge of its eye.
The fish usually has a dull, dark color on its back. Its sides are shiny and silver. The name "blue chub" comes from the male fish during breeding season. At this time, their snout turns a bright blue color. They also get orange hints on their sides and fins.
This fish has 9 rays in its top fin (dorsal fin). It has 8 or 9 rays in its bottom fin (anal fin). Each side fin (pectoral fin) has between 14 and 17 rays. Blue chubs can grow up to 41 centimeters long.
Where Does It Live and What Does It Eat?
Blue chubs live in many different places within their home range. They are very common in lakes. You can also find them in smaller streams and larger rivers.
In Upper Klamath Lake, they often prefer areas with rocks. They also like open water more than marshy, swampy shores. Along Boles Creek, they are most common in shallow reservoirs that have a lot of plants.
Blue chubs eat a variety of foods. Their diet includes insects that live in water and insects that live on land. They also eat small crustaceans, which are like tiny crabs or shrimp. Sometimes, they eat long, stringy algae, which are simple water plants.
How Does It Reproduce?
Blue chubs lay their eggs from May through August. They usually choose shallow areas with gravel, less than half a meter deep.
When a female blue chub lays her eggs, two or more males are usually with her. The males move the water around and push against the female. She lays her eggs in sticky clumps. These egg masses attach to rocks along the shoreline.
Is It Safe?
The blue chub is not officially listed as an endangered species. It is still common in the areas where it lives. However, some experts are worried about its future.
The places where blue chubs live are limited to a specific geographic area. Also, their numbers dropped in the 1980s and 1990s. This was due to several reasons. One reason was drought, which means not enough rain. Another problem was pollution from farms. Finally, new fish called fathead minnows were introduced. These minnows competed with the blue chubs for food and space.
See also
In Spanish: Gila coerulea para niños
