Virgin chub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Virgin chub |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gila
|
| Species: |
seminuda
|
The Virgin chub or Virgin River chub (Gila seminuda) is a type of fish. It is a medium-sized minnow with a silvery body. These fish are usually less than 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Some can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches).
The Virgin chub has small scales on its back, chest, and part of its belly. These scales are often hard to see. This fish is a unique part of the rivers where it lives.
Contents
Where the Virgin Chub Lives
The Virgin chub lives only in the Virgin River. This river flows through parts of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. You can also find a good number of them in the upper and middle parts of the Muddy River in Nevada.
In Arizona, the Virgin chub is found only in the Virgin River. This is within Mohave County.
What Kind of Home It Likes
The Virgin chub lives in the main parts of the Virgin and Muddy Rivers. The water in these rivers is usually a bit warm. It can also be cloudy and salty.
These fish rarely go into the small streams that flow into the main rivers. Virgin chubs like deeper areas of the river. They prefer places where the water moves fast but is not too rough. They often hide near large rocks or other cover.
Why the Virgin Chub is in Trouble
The number of Virgin chubs in the wild is still going down. This means they are an endangered species. In 1988, people tried to help them by removing other fish called red shiners. Red shiners compete with the Virgin chub for food and space.
Even after removing the red shiners, the Virgin chub population kept shrinking. This was because of other problems, like changes to their river homes.
Threats to the Virgin Chub
Many things harm the Virgin chub. Their habitat, or home, is being changed and made smaller. People sometimes take water out of the rivers for farms. This leaves less water for the fish. The river water can also get warmer, saltier, and cloudier.
Another big problem is new types of fish. When non-native fish are put into the river, they can compete with the Virgin chub. They can also bring new diseases or parasites.
Helping the Virgin Chub Survive
To help the Virgin chub, we need to protect and improve their habitat. This means making sure there is enough clean water in the rivers. We also need to control the non-native fish species.
It is important to try and create new populations of Virgin chubs. This would help them spread out and become stronger as a species.
How the Virgin Chub Came to Be
Scientists believe the Virgin chub formed from a mix of two other fish. These are the roundtail chub (Gila robusta) and the bonytail chub (Gila elegans). This is called "hybrid origin."
Scientists looked at the fish's body shapes to figure this out. They also studied their genes. The Virgin chub's genetic material is very similar to the bonytail chub. This suggests they are closely related.
See also
In Spanish: Gila seminuda para niños
