Southern leatherside chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern leatherside chub |
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The Southern leatherside chub (Lepidomeda aliciae) is a type of fish that lives in fresh water. It belongs to the carp and minnow family, called Cyprinidae. This fish is special because it's found only in Utah in the United States.
You can find these chubs in rivers and streams in Utah. They live in the Utah Lake Basin, including the American Fork, Provo River, and Spanish Fork areas. They also live in the Sevier River Basin. Sadly, they are no longer found in the Provo River or the Beaver River. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says they are in danger. This is mostly because their homes are being lost or damaged. Also, new fish species that don't belong there are causing problems.
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What the Southern Leatherside Chub Looks Like
The Southern leatherside chub looks a lot like the Northern leatherside chub. For a long time, scientists thought they were the same fish! Adult chubs are usually about 60 to 110 millimeters (2.4 to 4.3 inches) long. They have a sleek, torpedo-shaped body. Their tail fin is forked, like a "V" shape.
One way to tell them apart is by their nose. The Southern leatherside chub has a nose that comes to a sharper point. The Northern leatherside chub has a more rounded nose.
Life Cycle of the Southern Leatherside Chub
The Southern leatherside chub does not live for a very long time. Most of these fish become adults when they are 2 or 3 years old. They usually start having their own babies around this age. The oldest Southern leatherside chub ever found was 8 years old.
When it's time to lay eggs, these fish are very picky! They like to find small, smooth stones in rivers. They choose spots in both calm pools and faster-moving riffles. But they prefer places where the water flow is very slow.
Where the Southern Leatherside Chub Lives
Today, the Southern leatherside chub only lives in the Utah Lake and Sevier River systems in Utah, USA. In the past, they also lived in the Provo and Beaver river systems. But it's very likely they have disappeared from those places.
The Weber River system seems to be a natural border. It separates the Southern leatherside chub from its close relative, the Northern leatherside chub (Lepidomeda copei), in northern Utah.
Southern Leatherside Chub Habitat
These fish like to live in cool water. They prefer places with a medium amount of current. You can find them in creeks, rivers, pools, or riffles. They need these places so they can find food all the time.
Even though they live in both pools and riffles, they generally like pools more. Scientists have also found that Southern leatherside chubs grow faster in warmer water. They grow best when the water is around 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit).
Why the Southern Leatherside Chub is in Danger
The Utah Division of Wildlife considers the Southern leatherside chub a species that needs a lot of help. There are several reasons why these fish are in trouble:
- Habitat Loss: Their homes are being broken up. This happens when water is taken for farming, when rivers are straightened, or when dams are built. City growth and poor farming methods also hurt their homes.
- New Fish Species: Other fish that are not native to these waters are a problem. For example, brown trout (Salmo trutta) are predators that eat the chubs.
- Environmental Changes: Dry seasons and droughts also affect them. When there isn't enough water in the rivers, it makes it harder for the chubs to survive.
