Relict dace facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Relict dace
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Leuciscinae
Genus:	Relictus C. L. Hubbs & R. R. Miller, 1972
Species:	R. solitarius
Binomial name
Relictus solitarius C. L. Hubbs & R. R. Miller, 1972
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The relict dace (Relictus solitarius) is a special type of fish that belongs to the carp and minnow family. It lives in the Great Basin area of western North America. This fish is the only member of its group, which means it's quite unique!

What Does It Look Like?

The relict dace can have different colors, but it's usually a bit dark overall. It often has shades of olive green and brassy yellow on its back. You might also see clear speckles or patches that range from brown to green. It can even have thin yellowish stripes on its back and belly.

Its lower fins are often yellow, sometimes a bright golden color. The fish has a mouth that points slightly upwards, and its fins are quite small and rounded. The fins on its belly, called pelvic fins, are shaped a bit like paddles. These special body features help it swim well in calm waters.

Where Does It Live?

The relict dace lives in only a few places in eastern Nevada. All these locations were once part of a huge ancient lake called Lake Lahontan. Today, you can find them in springs in Buttle and Ruby Valleys. They also live in the water systems of Franklin Lake and Gale Lake. Because they live in such specific places, they are considered a unique part of the Great Basin's wildlife.

See also

In Spanish: Relictus solitarius para niños

References

• William F. Sigler and John W. Sigler, Fishes of the Great Basin (Reno: University of Nevada Press, 1987), pp. 200–203