Headwater chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Headwater chub |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gila
|
| Species: |
nigra
|
The headwater chub (Gila nigra) is a type of fish that belongs to the Cyprinidae family. You can find this fish in rivers and streams in Arizona and New Mexico.
Contents
About the Headwater Chub
The headwater chub has a body that can be thick and strong or more sleek. Male fish can grow up to about 50 centimeters (almost 20 inches) long. Females are usually smaller, around 10 to 18 centimeters (4 to 7 inches) long.
This fish is typically dark olive-gray or brown on top, with shiny silver sides and a white belly. It often has faint stripes along its body. Its tail section (called the caudal peduncle) is not super thin like a pencil. The fins are usually small to medium-sized. Its body is covered in scales.
What Makes It Different?
The headwater chub looks a bit like a trout, but it doesn't have the small, fleshy fin on its back called an adipose fin.
It's similar to other chub species like the humpback chub and bonytail chub. However, those fish have very thin tail sections and smaller eyes. Also, older humpback and bonytail chubs often have a noticeable hump on their neck and a flattened head, which the headwater chub does not have. The headwater chub is kind of a mix between the roundtail chub and the Gila chub in how it looks.
Where Headwater Chubs Live
Headwater chubs are native only to the Gila River basin in Arizona and New Mexico. They live in the middle and upper parts of medium-sized streams.
You can find them in the main Gila River in New Mexico (above where Mangus Creek joins it). This includes the West, Middle, and East forks of the Gila River. They also live in the San Carlos River (which flows into the Gila).
In Arizona, they are found in places like Ash Creek (a branch of the San Carlos River), Tonto Creek (which flows into the Salt River), and Spring Creek (a branch of Tonto Creek). In the Verde River system, they live in the upper parts of Fossil Creek, the East Verde River, and Deadman Creek.
Headwater Chub Habitat
Adult headwater chubs prefer cool to warm water. They like deep pools close to the shore, especially near fast-flowing areas called riffles and runs. They often hide near things like tree roots, large rocks, undercut banks (where the bank hangs over the water), or sunken wood.
In Fossil Creek, these fish were found in water deeper than 1.8 meters (about 6 feet). They preferred areas where the water moved slowly, less than 0.10 meters per second. They like bottoms made of gravel, small rocks, and large objects in the stream.
The best water temperature for headwater chubs is between 20-27 degrees Celsius (68-81 degrees Fahrenheit). They can survive in temperatures as low as 7 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit).
Younger chubs, called juveniles, like shallow areas where the water moves slowly. They also look for places with cover overhead to hide. In Fossil Creek, young chubs seemed to choose depths between 0.9-1.5 meters (3-5 feet) and water speeds of 0.15 meters per second. They were often found over sandy bottoms.
Life Cycle and Growth
Headwater chubs can live for about 8 to 10 years. They grow quickly, but how fast they grow depends on the water temperature. As mentioned, the largest fish can reach about 50 centimeters in length.
Population Trends
Like many native fish species, the number of headwater chubs and the areas where they live have decreased. This is mainly because their homes (habitats) are being lost or damaged. Also, they face challenges from non-native fish species that compete with them for food or even eat them.
Protecting the Headwater Chub
To help headwater chub populations, it's important to avoid activities that harm their habitats. These include:
- Drying up streams: Changing how stream water flows can leave habitats without enough water.
- Building dams: Dams can block fish movement and change water flow.
- Straightening streams: Making streams straight (channelization) removes natural hiding spots.
- Livestock grazing: Too many animals grazing near streams can damage the banks.
- Logging and mining: These activities can cause dirt and pollution to enter streams.
- Road building: Roads near streams can lead to pollution and habitat changes.
- Pollution: Any kind of pollution harms the fish and their environment.
- Introducing non-native fish: Bringing in fish that aren't naturally from the area can harm native species.
Scientists are also working to understand why these fish are disappearing and how to reduce the negative effects of non-native fish. Protecting the health of the entire watershed (the land area that drains into a river) and ensuring good stream flow are very important for their survival.
Protective Measures Taken
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is currently looking into whether the headwater chub should be listed as a threatened or endangered species. This listing would provide more protection for the fish and its habitat.
See also
In Spanish: Gila nigra para niños
