Yaqui chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yaqui chub |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Gila
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| Species: |
purpurea
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The Yaqui chub (Gila purpurea) is a type of freshwater fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes minnows and carps. You can find this fish in northern Mexico and the United States.
The Yaqui chub is a medium-sized minnow. It used to live in streams of the Matape, Sonora, and Yaqui river systems in Sonora, Mexico. It is one of five Gila species found in Arizona.
This fish is closely related to G. ditaenia from Sonora, Mexico. It is also related to G. orcutti, which lives in the Los Angeles Plain in California. The Yaqui chub looks a lot like the G. orcutti (Arroyo chub). However, it has a special black wedge shape near its tail fin.
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Appearance of the Yaqui Chub
The Yaqui chub has a short, rounded snout. This makes its mouth small and slightly underneath its head. It has large eyes on a thick head. Its body is deep, especially near the head.
The back part of its body is much thinner. The Yaqui chub has large scales that overlap a bit. Its color is usually dark all over. Sometimes, its underside is a bit lighter.
The dark stripes on its sides are hard to see. But there is usually a triangle-shaped spot on its tail fin. This spot points downwards.
Most Yaqui chubs are less than 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. Some can grow to about 17.8 centimeters (7 inches). Young Yaqui chubs are usually 40 to 50 millimeters (1.6 to 2 inches) long.
Where the Yaqui Chub Lives
We don't know exactly where the Yaqui chub lives in Mexico right now. But we know it was brought to Leslie Creek in Arizona in 1969. This creek is in the Swisshelm Mountains. The fish settled there and now lives there.
You can also find this fish in two wildlife refuges in Arizona. These are the San Bernardino (SBNWR) and Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge. Both are in Cochise County.
In the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, Yaqui chubs live in several places. These include Leslie Creek, House Pond, Twin Pond, North Pond, and Mesquite Pond. They also live at the El Coronado Ranch in Turkey Creek. The Yaqui chub relies heavily on the artesian wells and springs in the SBNWR.
Yaqui Chub Habitat
Yaqui chubs like to live in deep pools. These pools are usually in smaller streams. They prefer areas with lots of plants growing in the water.
However, some Yaqui chubs live in cleaner, open areas. These spots are often near gravel bottoms. These gravel areas are usually covered with a lot of algae. So, they like deep, plant-filled pools in creeks and spring runs.
What the Yaqui Chub Eats
When they can find them, Yaqui chubs eat insects that live in the water. They also sometimes eat small fish.
However, they more often eat algae. They also like to eat insects that live on land. Spiders are another common food for them.
Yaqui Chub Reproduction
Yaqui chubs usually lay their eggs around March. They can also breed at other times during the summer.
During the breeding season, their colors change. Male Yaqui chubs turn a shiny "steely-blue" color. Female Yaqui chubs become a duller, yellowish-brown color.
Protecting the Yaqui Chub
The number of Yaqui chubs in the U.S. is small but steady. However, there are still dangers to them.
Some threats include too much water being pumped from underground. This reduces the water flow in streams. Other fish that are not native to the area also eat the Yaqui chubs. Too much grazing by animals can also harm their habitat. This can lead to soil washing away.
To help the Yaqui chub, we need to protect the San Bernardino underground water sources. We also need to watch out for non-native fish near the chub's streams.
People have taken steps to protect the Yaqui chub. In 1980, a group called The Nature Conservancy bought the San Bernardino Ranch. Eight years later, they bought Leslie Canyon. Both places have many Yaqui chubs.
These places were then sold to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They became National Wildlife Refuges. Later, a "Recovery Plan for the Endangered and Threatened fishes of the Rio Yaqui" was created. This plan is still being reviewed.
The main goal of the plan is to keep the Yaqui chub's habitats safe. This includes their homes in Mexico and Arizona. The plan also involves studying the Yaqui chub more. This research helps us understand what they need to survive.
See also
In Spanish: Carpa pírpura para niños
