Flame chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flame chub |
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| Conservation status | |
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Hemitremia
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| Species: |
flammea
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The flame chub (Hemitremia flammea) is a type of freshwater fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes carps and minnows. This fish is found only in the United States.
Its home range generally follows the Tennessee River. This goes from near Knoxville, Tennessee, down to where the Duck River joins it. In the past, you could find flame chubs in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. These fish prefer to live in small flowing streams, especially those connected to springs.
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What the Flame Chub Looks Like
The flame chub has a unique appearance. It has a deep tail section, called a caudal peduncle. Its head and snout are short, and its mouth is small and slightly underneath its head. The body is not very flat.
The fin on its back, called the dorsal fin, starts a little behind its belly fins (pelvic fins). It has 7 to 8 soft rays in its anal fin. The side line on its body, called the lateral line, is not complete. It has 38 to 44 scales along this line, but less than half of them have pores. It also has special teeth in its throat, called pharyngeal teeth.
The top half of the fish is olive green. It has a dark stripe along its back and dark streaks. Below this, there's a light stripe, then a black stripe that ends in a black spot or wedge near its tail. The bottom of the fish is white to red. Large fish, especially males, have bright scarlet colors on the front part of their body and at the base of their dorsal fin. Males are usually more colorful than females. Both sexes become even brighter during their breeding season. Flame chubs can grow up to about 3 inches (7.8 cm) long.
Where Flame Chubs Live
The flame chub's living areas are now spread out and disconnected. This is because their natural homes have been changed or destroyed. Most flame chubs live in the Tennessee River Valley. This area stretches from Knoxville, Tennessee, through Alabama, to the mouth of the Duck River in Tennessee.
In Alabama, where about half of these fish live, most populations are in the Highland Rim or Cumberland Plateau regions. There is also one group of flame chubs living alone in north Georgia. This group is found in the Tiger Creek watershed. In Alabama, only two populations live on protected public land. The rest of the flame chub's habitat is on private land. This means that helping these fish survive depends a lot on working with private landowners.
How Flame Chubs Live (Ecology)
Many studies say that flame chubs live in streams fed by springs, shallow water, and springs themselves. They are often found over gravel where there are many water plants. However, the ground they live on can be different, from solid rock to rubble or mud. They might also be found in slow-moving areas near the banks of larger streams.
Even though they are often called "spring-dwelling," only a small number of places where they have been found are actual springs. Still, most places where they are collected are in areas fed by springs. Most records of this fish are from small streams.
Scientists think these fish might travel within their home range. They might move from their usual stream to the headwaters (where the stream starts) to lay eggs. Or, they might live in groups that are connected, with springs acting as safe places for them. Adult flame chubs have also been seen gathering in flooded fields and pastures for spawning.
Because springs and their connecting streams are delicate, human growth has made the flame chub's living areas even more separated. This fish naturally lives in a small area. As of 2014, the IUCN says this species is "Near Threatened." This means it could become endangered soon. This is due to threats from new fish species brought into their habitat and changes humans make to their homes.
The water temperature where flame chubs live can range from 75.2°F (24°C) in July to 35.6°F (8°C) in February. The water's mineral content and pH levels also vary. In 1990, a study found that flame chubs in east Tennessee often lived near water plants like swamp smartweed, small pondweed, and watercress.
Flame chubs mostly eat larvae and pupae of flies (77-100% of their diet). They sometimes also eat snails, small worms, water bugs, and tiny crustaceans. Finding seeds, sand, and other bits in their stomachs suggests that flame chubs feed on or near the bottom of the stream. When observed in aquariums, flame chubs peck at the bottom.
Life Cycle of the Flame Chub
A study in Tennessee found that flame chub eggs started hatching in early May and continued through late May. Gravel is very important for these fish when they breed. It helps filter the water, keeping it very clean. It also provides a stable bottom for a fish that spends a lot of its time near the stream bed. There isn't much information available about how long flame chubs live.
Protecting the Flame Chub
The flame chub is currently listed as near threatened by the IUCN Red List. This means it's a species that needs attention to prevent it from becoming endangered. A study near Chattanooga, Tennessee, showed that flame chubs were much more common in areas with high oxygen levels and well-forested, rocky streams.
One of the main reasons this species is declining is the destruction of its habitat. The flame chub is very sensitive to changes in its home. It has now disappeared from Kentucky and is close to disappearing from Georgia. A survey in north Alabama in 2007 found flame chubs in only 19 out of 53 places where they lived in the 1960s. Many of these places were clearly damaged by human activities. For example, some streams were put into concrete pipes, or parts of streams were paved over.
