Mexican stoneroller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican stoneroller |
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The Mexican stoneroller (Campostoma ornatum) is a cool type of fish. It lives in parts of Arizona and Texas in the United States. You can also find it in nearby areas of Mexico. This fish is part of the carp family, called Cyprinidae. Other fish in its group, Campostoma, look quite similar.
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About the Mexican Stoneroller
The Mexican stoneroller has a strong body. It has a very large head and a big snout. Its mouth is special because its teeth have a soft, tough covering. The mouth itself is usually quite small.
Size and Appearance
These fish can grow from about 3 to almost 6 inches long. However, 6 inches is very rare. Most Mexican stonerollers are around 3.5 inches long. They have small scales along their sides. These scales are like those found on the Gila longfin dace and the Yaqui longfin dace. Sometimes, the scales on their back can form curved patterns.
Male stonerollers often have bigger heads. Their upper bodies are also larger. This helps them attract mates. The fish usually have lighter colors on their bellies. Their backs are darker. They also have a clear black stripe along their sides. They might look a bit blotchy too.
Where They Live
The Mexican stoneroller has been found far south in Rio Yaqui in Mexico. It also lives in rivers that flow into the Rio Grande. These areas are near the Big Bend region of Texas.
Their Home Environment
Mexican stonerollers live in places that are between 2,600 and 6,500 feet high. They like shallow water. They prefer areas with gravel and stones at the bottom. Older, larger fish can be found in streams with sandy bottoms. They hide under riverbanks to stay safe from predators and people.
The fish mostly live in the Montane Conifer Forest. This is in the Chiricahua Mountains. They stay in higher places because of their diet. They eat tiny bits of dead plants and algae. These foods grow well in colder water. If there are droughts, they might also eat aquatic insects.
How They Reproduce
Scientists have not studied much about how these fish reproduce. So, there is not a lot of information about their breeding habits.
Breeding Colors and Behavior
Mexican stonerollers can change the colors of their fins when they breed. Males show more dramatic color changes. This helps them attract females. Breeding mostly happens in the winter and late spring.
Male stonerollers have small bumps called tubercles. They use these bumps like weapons when fighting other males. They also use them to get the attention of females. The name "stoneroller" comes from how the males build their nests. They roll stones with their heads to make a spot for females. This also helps them protect their territory from rivals.
Biology and Conservation
The special coverings on their jaws help them scrape algae. They also scrape tiny bits of food from gravel and stones. Male stonerollers use a lot of energy to compete for mates. This extra effort might be making the species weaker. It could even be a reason why their numbers are going down.
Protecting the Species
The number of Mexican stonerollers is quickly dropping in Rucker Canyon. They are also declining in San Bernardino Creek. However, their numbers in Texas and Mexico are still steady.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department listed this fish as endangered in 1988. It is still on that list today. Several things are causing their decline. These include pumping water from underground, which lowers stream levels. Also, non-native fish like the green sunfish eat them. The San Bernardino Ranch plans to release more stonerollers to help their population grow. Other projects are working to protect their natural homes.
