Gila chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gila chub |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Gila
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| Species: |
intermedia
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The Gila chub (Gila intermedia) is a type of ray-finned fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes carps and minnows. You can find this fish in parts of Mexico and the United States. It's a close relative of the roundtail chub. The Gila chub often lives near other fish like the Gila topminnow, desert sucker, Sonora sucker, longfin dace, and speckled dace.
Contents
What the Gila Chub Looks Like
The Gila chub has a big, round body. It has large, thick scales covering it. Its body is usually dark. Sometimes, its belly is a bit lighter in color.
Older female Gila chubs can grow a soft, wide hump. This hump appears on the back of their neck. When male Gila chubs are ready to breed, they get special colors. Their lower cheek, parts of their lips, and fins turn red or orange. This color can also be seen near their tail.
Males usually grow to about 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) long. Females can get much bigger, reaching up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches).
Where the Gila Chub Lives
The Gila chub has been found in streams that flow into the Gila River in Arizona. It also lives in the Santa Cruz River system in Sonora, Mexico. However, recently, this fish has not been seen in the San Pedro drainage in Sonora, Mexico.
In Arizona, Gila chubs have been found in several rivers. These include the Santa Cruz River, Middle Gila River, San Pedro River, Agua Fria River, and the Verde River. Sadly, these fish have disappeared from some places. This includes Monkey Spring in the Santa Cruz River and Fish and Cave Creeks in the Salt River.
Gila Chub Habitat
Gila chubs living in the Gila River basin usually prefer smaller streams. They also like springs or marshy areas. Where they choose to live can change. This depends on the season or how old the fish is.
Younger Gila chubs can be found in shallow, fast-moving water called riffles. They also live in pools and along riverbanks. In bigger streams, these fish hide in areas with lots of plants. This helps them stay safe and find food. Gila chubs are known to be quite "secretive." They are always looking for deeper water where they can find cover and shade.
What the Gila Chub Eats
Gila chubs are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. Their main diet includes insects that live in water. They also eat insects that fall into the water from land.
Larger Gila chubs are known to eat other fish. This can include speckled dace and other small minnow-like fish. Young Gila chubs eat throughout the day. Adult Gila chubs are more active in the early morning and late at night. Young fish usually eat insects and algae.
Gila Chub Reproduction
Gila chubs have a special breeding season. It usually happens from late spring to summer. Some groups of Gila chubs can even breed in late winter. This happens if the water stays warm enough.
Their breeding period is long because Gila chubs become adults later. They are ready to reproduce in their second or third year. Breeding takes place in areas with lots of plants. Fish that are actively breeding get very bright colors. Parts of their body turn fire-red, and their eyes become yellow-orange.
Protecting the Gila Chub
We don't know much about how many Gila chubs live in Mexico. However, the groups in Arizona are expected to shrink. This is due to several ongoing problems. These include pumping water from underground (aquifer pumping) and changing how streams flow. Their homes are also affected by non-native crayfish.
The biggest threat is often from non-native fish. These fish compete with Gila chubs for food or eat them. Currently, Gila chubs share water with green sunfish in many places. It's very important to watch and manage any other new fish introduced to their homes. This is key for the Gila chub to survive. In fact, Gila chubs have disappeared from many areas because of fish like the largemouth bass.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is working to help the Gila chub. They are planning to move Gila chubs from Silver Creek to another stream. This new stream is in the Agua Fria headwaters. This will help the department study the Gila chub. They can then decide if it needs to be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
- Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. Gila intermedia. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Gila intermedia para niños
