Tui chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tui chub |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Siphateles
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| Species: |
bicolor
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| Synonyms | |
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The tui chub (Siphateles bicolor) is a type of minnow fish. It lives naturally in western North America. This fish is found in many places. It is a key food source for other fish, like the cutthroat trout.
Contents
Where Tui Chubs Live
Tui chubs live in many different areas. You can find them in the Lahontan and Central parts of the Great Basin. They also live in the Owens and Mojave Rivers.
These fish are also in the Pit River and Goose Lake. These areas are in the upper Central Valley. They are also found in the Klamath River system. Plus, they live in the Columbia River drainage system.
What Tui Chubs Look Like
Tui chubs can look quite different from one another. Many were first thought to be separate species. But now, scientists know they are just different types of the same fish.
Generally, their top side is a deep olive green. Their belly is white. The color changes smoothly along their sides. They often have a shiny, brassy look. Their fins are olive, sometimes with a red tint. Their pectoral fins are placed far forward and low on their body.
Tui chubs can grow up to 45 centimetres (18 in) long. However, a length of 25 centimetres (10 in) is more common for most of them.
Tui Chub Homes and Habits
Tui chubs live in many kinds of watery places. This includes small streams and large lakes. They can be found in cold, high lakes like Lake Tahoe. They also live in warmer desert streams.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Tui chubs lay their eggs between late April and early August. The exact time depends on how warm the water is. In Pyramid Lake, the busiest time for laying eggs is June. Male fish swim closer to the shore first. Then, they gather around females in shallow water. They prefer areas with lots of plants.
The female fish spreads her eggs widely. Several males then fertilize these eggs. The baby fish, called hatchlings, stay hidden in the thick plants. They stay there for the rest of the summer. In Lake Tahoe, some tui chubs lay eggs near stream mouths in July.
What Tui Chubs Eat
Tui chubs eat many different things. Young fish mostly eat small invertebrates. As they get older, they add plants to their diet. They especially like to eat algae. What they eat also changes based on where they live. It also depends on their gill rakers.
For example, tui chubs in Pyramid Lake with fine gill rakers eat more plankton. They live in open water. Tui chubs with coarse gill rakers live near the bottom. They eat more plants and algae. The very largest tui chubs will even eat other fish.
In Pyramid Lake, the endangered Lahontan cutthroat trout eats tui chubs. Scientists have studied the Lahontan cutthroat trout a lot. This is because water management decisions affect the water quality of the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake.
Types of Tui Chubs
The exact number of different types, or subspecies, of tui chubs is not fully known. Some experts think there might be as many as 16! Here are some of the agreed-upon subspecies:
- Siphateles bicolor bicolor
- Siphateles bicolor isolata
- Siphateles bicolor mohavensis
- Siphateles bicolor obesa
- Siphateles bicolor pectinifer
- Siphateles bicolor snyderi
