Railroad Valley springfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Railroad Valley springfish |
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The Railroad Valley springfish (Crenichthys nevadae) is a special type of fish that lives in the western United States. It's quite rare and can only be found in seven warm springs in a place called Railroad Valley in Nye County, Nevada. These fish are part of a family called goodeids.
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What Does It Look Like?
This springfish has a body that looks a bit strong and solid, especially near its head. Its head is almost as wide as it is tall. On each side of its body, you can see a cool pattern of dark spots with lighter stripes in between.
One interesting thing about the Railroad Valley springfish is that it doesn't have any pelvic fins, which are usually found on the belly of most fish. It has a large anal fin (near the tail on the bottom) and a dorsal fin (on its back). The dorsal fin is set far back on its body, right above the anal fin.
What Does It Eat?
The Railroad Valley springfish is an omnivore, which means it eats both plants and animals. During the summer, most of its food (about two-thirds or more) comes from animals, mainly small snails called gastropods. When it eats plants, it usually munches on stringy algae.
Scientists think that because these fish live in very warm water, they might need the extra energy that animal food provides.
Where It Lives
These unique fish live in warm springs where the water temperature ranges from about 77 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 39 degrees Celsius). They are perfectly adapted to these warm conditions.
Protecting the Springfish
Even though the Railroad Valley springfish isn't in immediate danger of disappearing, its very small natural home makes it vulnerable. This means it could be easily harmed by new types of fish that are introduced to its habitat, or by changes to its home.
For example, in the early 1980s, a type of fish called channel catfish was introduced to Duckwater Spring. These catfish almost wiped out the springfish there! To help protect them, some Railroad Valley springfish have been moved to new safe homes, like Chimney Springs and a place called Hot Creek Canyon in Mineral County, Nevada. This helps make sure they have more places to live and thrive.
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Crenichthys nevadae" in FishBase. July 2006 version.
See also
In Spanish: Goodeido primavera del valle de Railroad para niños
