7384

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7384
• Author: Tyus, H. M.
• Title: Colorado Squawfish.
• USFW Year: n.d.
• USFW - Doc Type: Vernal, Utah.
• Copyright Material: NO

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COLORADO SQUAWFISH
Harold M. Tyus
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Serviee
1680 West Hwy 40, Room 1210
Vernal, Utah 84078
INTRODUCTION
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The Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius Girard) is the largest minnow,
or cyprinid fish species, native to North America, reaching sizes of 1.8 m and
36 kg (Miller 1961). Early settlers used the fish for food, and popular names
of "salmon","white salmon"' or "whitefish" (Evermann and Rutter 1895), and
"Colorado River salmon" (Measeles 1981), were used for this attractive fish
(Figure 1), perhaps reflecting large size, body shape, and migratory nature.
1