Valencia chub facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Valencia chub
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Leuciscinae
Genus:	Squalius
Species:	S. valentinus
Binomial name
Squalius valentinus Doadrio & Carmona, 2006
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

The Squalius valentinus, also known as the Valencia chub or Levantine bagra, is a type of freshwater fish. It belongs to the carp family called Cyprinidae. This fish was first found in the Turia River in Valencia, which is how it got its name. Sadly, it is currently considered an endangered species.

You can tell the Valencia chub apart from similar fish by a few things. It has eight branched rays in its dorsal fin (the fin on its back). It also has eight branched rays in its anal fin (the fin on its belly near the tail). This fish has two rows of pharyngeal teeth on each side of its throat. These teeth help it to chew its food. Other clues include its wide tail base, the number of gill rakers, and the number of scales along its lateral line.

What Does the Valencia Chub Look Like?

The Valencia chub is a small fish, usually shorter than 200 millimetres (7.9 in) (about 8 inches). It has a large head that is about as deep as its body. The distance from its eye to its snout is similar to the size of its eye. The space between its eyes is quite long.

Its ventral fin (belly fin) is located right below where its dorsal fin starts. The part of its body before the dorsal fin is a bit longer than the part before the ventral fin. It also has a tall caudal peduncle, which is the narrow part of the body connecting to the tail fin. This fish has large fins overall. Its pectoral fin (side fin) is even taller than its dorsal fin.

Colors and Patterns

The body of the Valencia chub is mostly silver. It is a bit darker on its back. Each of its scales has a big black spot at its base. There are also several small black spots along the outer edge of each scale. Even the lining of its belly (called the peritoneum) has small black spots. When young, the scales of this fish can fall off easily.

Where Does the Valencia Chub Live?

The Valencia chub lives in rivers in the Mediterranean part of Spain. You can find it between the Mijares and Vinalopó river basins. In the Júcar river basin, both the Valencia chub and another fish called S. pyrenaicus live there. However, they live in different parts of the river. The Valencia chub prefers the lower parts of the river, while S. pyrenaicus lives in the upper parts.

This fish usually lives in streams with clear water and bottoms made of gravel. In some streams, like the Gorgos River, the Valencia chub is the only fish that naturally lives there. In the Turia and Mijares basins, it lives alongside other native carp-like fish. These include Barbus guiraonis, Chondrostoma turiense, and Chondrostoma arcasii. The Valencia chub also shares the Júcar, Serpis, and Vinalopó basins with B. guiraonis.

Why is the Valencia Chub in Danger?

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists the Valencia chub as a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. One reason is that it lives in a very small area, less than 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi).

Another big problem is water being taken from rivers for human use. Building dams also harms their habitat. Also, new types of fish that are not native to these rivers are being introduced. These foreign species can compete with the Valencia chub for food and space. The Valencia chub is a rare fish and its numbers are going down. While it can be common in small rivers, it is very rare in larger rivers.