7117 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7117
• Author: Barrett, J. C. and G. D. Grossman
• Title: Effects of Direct Current Electrofishing on the Mottled Sculpin
• USFW Year: 1988
• USFW - Doc Type: North American Journal of Fisheries Management
• Copyright Material: YES

MINNOW 59
a sucker.
aught by
ies. Since
be taken
Y do not
cd Girard
with any-
which it
line and
a larger,
~udal pe-
siderably
fish have
the Gila
rue trout
pplied to
f'he color
:ur along
Breeding
with the
•om both
distinct,
lack spot
the- Con-
wls or in
heir food
vn in the
hen large
where it
size and
a serious
cation of
the San Juan Basin suggest that the largest American minnow occurs in
New Mexico. This fish, more properly called the Colorado River
squawfish, has been reported to reach a length of almost 5 feet and
a weight of 80 pounds. Hearsay records from New Mexico indicate that
fish weighing from 5 to 10 pounds are fairly common and that occa-
sionallyindividuals weighing 25 to 30 pounds are taken. Unfortunately,
no specimens are available to verify the identification. This min,
now, Ptychocheilus Lucius Girard, most closely resembles a large bony-
tail chub, from which it may be distinguished by its more elongate
head and upper jaw. The head is more than twice as long as it is deep,
and the upper jaw reaches about to the middle of the pupil instead of
only to about the front margin of the eye.
REDBELLY DACE Chrosomus erythrogaster (Rafinesque)
While the incomplete lateral line and minute scales will distinguish
this species, the former is not always easy to detect. The two dark bands,
with the lesser above instead of below the main one, should suffice for
recognition. The primary dark band extends from the snout, through
the eye, nearly to the spot at the base of the caudal fin. The secondary
dark band extends from the upper angle of the gill opening back to
the tail. The moderately compressed body tapers evenly toward bath
ends. The -mouth is of moderate size and is nearly terminal. During
most of the year, redbelly dace are olive brown above, somewhat creamy
between the bands, and silvery white below. During the spawning
season•the males become gaudy, developing golden- colors between the
bands and scarlet ones on the belly..
The redbelly dace is locally common in a few small tributaries of
the Canadian River. It is mostly herbivorous, and feeds largely upon
algae and small insects. It spawns by scattering its eggs over gravel in
the spring and early summer. IVlost adults are between 2 and 3 inches
long. •
Phis unusual fish is too rare in New Mexico to be of economic sig-
nificance. If the males kept their breeding colors the year round, they
would make striking aquarium fish.
t. • ~ . ~..._ . , .