White River springfish

The White River Quellkärpfling ( Crenichthys baileyi ) is a rare freshwater fish that occurs in five subspecies in Nevada. The specific epithet refers to the naturalist Vernon Orlando Bailey.

Description

The White River Quellkärpfling reaches a length of up to nine centimeters. The top is colored dark olive. The bottom appears silvery. Along the edges of a black band can be seen. A second series of black spots extends from the midsection to the tail fin. Chin and gill covers are bright silver. The fins are light olive colored and sometimes a little dark around the edges. The teeth are bicuspid. The jaws are about equal in length. A ventral fin is absent. The anal fin is long with 14 rays. The dorsal fin sits back on the body in front of the anal fin. It is slightly smaller than the anal fin and has 11 rays.

Dissemination

The distribution area of the White River Quellkärpflings are sources of the White River and its tributaries in Nevada. The subspecies baileyi Crenichthys albivallis comes in Preston Big Spring before in White Pine County. Crenichthys bailey bailey and Crenichthys grandis are limited to the hot water springs at Ash Springs, Spring Hiko and Crystal Springs in Pahranagat Valley in Lincoln County. The source system of the Moapa River is the habitat of Crenichthys baileyi moapae and Crenichthys bailey thermophilus lives in the sources of Moorman and Moon Rivers and in the Hot Creek.

Way of life

The White River Quellkärpfling lives in sources where temperatures 21-37 ° C prevail. Colder springs have an oxygen content of 3.3 ppm. In the hot springs, the oxygen content of 0.7 ppm is far lower and life expectancy of the fish by about a quarter less than in the cooler sources. The diet consists of small invertebrates. During spawning 10 to 17 eggs are laid, which are fertilized separately.

Status

The White River Quellkärpfling has become rare due to the channeling of source zones and by competition with introduced carp and exotic fish. He is listed in the IUCN Red List and the Endangered Species Act as an endangered species.