Moapa dace

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Moapa dace
Moapa coriacea.jpg
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Leuciscinae
Clade: Laviniinae
Genus: Moapa
C. L. Hubbs and R. R. Miller, 1948
Species:
M. coriacea
Binomial name
Moapa coriacea
Synonyms [1]

Gila coriacea

The moapa dace (Moapa coriacea) is a rare cyprinid fish of southern Nevada, United States, found only in the upper parts of the Muddy (formerly Moapa) River, and in the warm springs that give rise to the river. [3] It is the only species of the monotypic genus Moapa. [4]

A small fish, with a maximum recorded length of 9 cm (3.5 in), [5] its scales are small and embedded in the skin, resulting in a noticeably leathery texture [3] (thus the species epithet, derived from Latin coriaceus "leathery"). General body shape is standard for cyprinids, with a vaguely conical head.

Moapa dace require warm water, and can survive in a temperature range of 67 to 93 °F (19 to 34 °C). They inhabit waters with abundant algae and shade over gravel, sand and mud, and have an omnivorous diet. [5] [1] Their reproduction cycle peaks in spring and is the lowest in fall, occurring in headwater tributaries. [6] Spawning occurs within 150 m (490 ft) of headwaters springs, in water temperatures of 30–32 °C (86–90 °F). [1] The Moapa Dace usually reproduce in areas where there are overhead instream cover and the water velocity is around 0.11 to 0.17 metres per second (0.36 to 0.56 ft/s). [7] The entire habitat of this species consists of less than 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi) within Clark County, Nevada. [5]

Moapa dace were first federally listed as endangered in 1967, then reclassified as vulnerable in 1986 and 1988. In 1994, a fire at the Moapa National Wildlife Refuge triggered a population decline, and by 1996 the species had been classified as critically endangered. [5] Additional threats to this species include loss of habitat due to resort development, the introduction of non-native fish species, and capping or depletion of spring-fed headwaters. [5]

The Moapa National Wildlife Refuge was established solely to protect this species, and was the first National Wildlife Refuge created for the purpose of protecting an endangered fish species. [5] Since then, researchers have created artificial streams mimicking the optimal conditions described above in hopes of spurring an increase in population. When analyzing the effects of stress on the fish, stressed fish experienced a high mortality rate of around 70% overall while the unstressed group of fish experienced around a 1.15% mortality rate per month. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muddy River (Nevada)</span> River in Nevada, United States

The Muddy River, formerly known as the Moapa River, is a short river located in Clark County, in southern Nevada, United States. It is in the Mojave Desert, approximately 60 miles (97 km) north of Las Vegas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern redbelly dace</span> Fresh water cyprinid fish

The northern redbelly dace is a fresh water cyprinid fish, generally found in lakes and small streams in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Ranging from 1-3 inches, it is one of forty-four species from the minnow and carp family of Cyprinidae in these areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge</span> Protected area in the Amargosa Valley of southern Nye County, Nevada

The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a protected wildlife refuge located in the Amargosa Valley of southern Nye County, in southwestern Nevada. It is directly east of Death Valley National Park, and is 90 mi (140 km) west-northwest of Las Vegas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge</span>

The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge (MVNWR) is a protected wildlife refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in the Warm Springs Natural Area in the Moapa Valley of Clark County, Nevada. The refuge is east of Death Valley and 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devils Hole pupfish</span> Rare species of fish native to Nevada, U.S.

The Devils Hole pupfish is a critically endangered species of the family Cyprinodontidae (pupfishes) found only in Devils Hole, a water-filled cavern in the US state of Nevada. It was first described as a species in 1930 and is most closely related to C. nevadensis and the Death Valley pupfish. The age of the species is unknown, with differing analyses offering ranges between one thousand and sixty thousand years. It is a small fish, with maximum lengths of up to 30 mm (1.2 in). Individuals vary in coloration based on age and sex: males are bright metallic blue while females and juveniles are more yellow. A defining trait of this species is its lack of pelvic fins. The pupfish consumes nearly every available food resource at Devils Hole, including beetles, snails, algae, and freshwater crustaceans, with diet varying throughout the year. It is preyed on by the predaceous diving beetle species Neoclypeodytes cinctellus, which was first observed in Devils Hole in 1999 or 2000. Reproduction occurs year-round, with spikes in the spring and fall. Females produce few eggs, though, and the survivorship from egg to adult is low. Individuals live 10–14 months.

The desert dace is a rare cyprinid fish known only from the warm springs and creeks of Soldier Meadow in western Humboldt County, Nevada, USA. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Eremichthys. The species is also notable for its ability to live in waters as warm as 38 °C (100 °F). It is the sole member of its genus Eremichthys.

The Alvord chub is a rare cyprinid fish endemic to the Alvord basin in southeastern Oregon and northwestern Nevada, U.S., known only from a few springs, streams and marshes in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, and one location elsewhere.

Moapa may mean:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longnose dace</span> Species of fish

The longnose dace is a freshwater minnow native to North America. Rhinicthys means snout fish and cataractae means of the cataract. Longnose dace are small, typically less than 100 mm and characterized by their fleshy snout that protrudes past the mouth. They are well adapted for living on the bottom of fast-flowing streams among stones. Longnose dace eat algae and aquatic insects and are important forage minnows for larger predatory fish.

The relict dace is a cyprinid fish of the Great Basin of western North America. It is the sole member of its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonytail chub</span> Species of fish

The bonytail chub or bonytail is a cyprinid freshwater fish native to the Colorado River basin of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming in the southwestern United States; it has been extirpated from the part of the basin in Mexico. It was once abundant and widespread in the basin, its numbers and range have declined to the point where it has been listed as endangered since 1980 (ESA) and 1986 (IUCN), a fate shared by the other large Colorado basin endemic fish species like the Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and razorback sucker. It is now the rarest of the endemic big-river fishes of the Colorado River. There are 20 species in the genus Gila, seven of which are found in Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speckled dace</span> Species of fish

The speckled dace, also known as the spotted dace and the carpita pinta, is a member of the minnow family. It is found in temperate freshwater in North America, from Sonora, Mexico to British Columbia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redside dace</span> Species of fish

The redside dace is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae, found in the United States and Canada. It is unique among minnows, being the only species to routinely feed on flying insects by leaping from water. Thus, it acts as a conduit for nutrient transfers between terrestrial and aquatic environments. The species can be used as an ecosystem health indicator, as it is sensitive to environmental disturbances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warm Springs Natural Area</span>

The Yaqui longfin dace is a small fish of the American Southwest and northern Mexico, and considered a form of the longfin dace. It is often referred to as Agosia chrysogaster sp 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern blacknose dace</span> Species of fish

Eastern blacknose dace is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Rhinichthys. Its name originates from the Old French word "dars" which is the nominative form of the word "dart" in reference to their swimming pattern. The western blacknose dace formerly was considered conspecific. While morphologically the two species are not significantly different, they are allopatric. The eastern blacknose dace is found across the southeast portion of Canada and down along the United States' east coast. It is dark brown to olive on its dorsal surface and silvery white below, the two shades separated by the darkly pigmented lateral line. In the breeding season, males develop darker pigmentation and an orange lateral line. Blacknose dace live in rocky streams and rivers where they feed upon small invertebrates and microscopic biological matter and provide forage for larger fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western blacknose dace</span> Species of fish

Western blacknose dace is a common species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae and the genus Rhinichthys. Western blacknose dace have tan to dark brown backs, lighter sides, and cream colored undersides. Dark blotches are sporadically scattered across their sides and backs. A distinctive dark colored mid-lateral stripe from the tip of the snout to the caudal peduncle is present. The snout is relatively long and they have a slightly sub-terminal mouth. The stripe is dark brown in females and is a rusty pink color in males during spawning season. The lateral stripe is more pronounced and the caudal spot is present in juveniles. Similar to other species of dace the western blacknose dace give the illusion of having no scales but in actuality the scales are so small they are hard to see. Western blacknose dace are typically 2-3 inches long but can grow to as long as 4 inches. They have a forked tail, single dorsal fin with 8 rays and no spines, a pelvic fin on the abdominal, no adipose fin, and an anal fin with 7 rays and no spines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allegheny pearl dace</span> Species of fish

The Allegheny pearl dace is a species of cyprinid fish. It is a demersal, freshwater fish, with a dark green back and silvery body. This species is omnivorous, consuming algae, as well as arthropods. M. margarita's range spans southern Canada and the northern United States. While not considered endangered at the federal level in the United States, several states either consider this species endangered or threatened; it faces threats of habitat destruction and invasive species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurel dace</span> Species of fish

The laurel dace is a species of freshwater minnow native to the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was first discovered in 1976. A very rare species, it has only been found in localized populations in six small streams on the Walden Ridge portion of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. It is found in six streams: the Soddy, Horn, Cupp, Young's, Moccasin, and Bumbee Creeks, all of which drain into larger rivers that eventually feed the Tennessee River. It is believed to be extirpated from Laurel Creek, the only other stream where it was known to occur.

<i>Empetrichthys latos</i> Species of fish

Empetrichthys latos is a rare species of fish in the family Goodeidae, the splitfins. It is known by the common names Pahrump poolfish and Pahrump killifish, the former being more correct today. It is endemic to Nevada in the United States, where it was limited to the Pahrump Valley near the California border. It nearly became extinct due to habitat destruction and no longer occurs there. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. The Pahrump Poolfish is long-lived for a small-bodied fish, with ages up to 10 years for females and 7 years for males documented.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 NatureServe (2014). "Gila coriacea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T13602A19035118. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T13602A19035118.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Moapa coriacea". NatureServe Explorer An online encyclopedia of life. 7.1. NatureServe. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Moapa coriacea" in FishBase . February 2021 version.
  4. "Moapa". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Moapa dace". Freshwater Fish of America. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  6. SCOPPETTONE, G. (1992). LIFE-HISTORY, ABUNDANCE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF MOAPA DACE (MOAPA-CORIACEA). Great Basin Naturalist, 52(3), 216–225.
  7. Ruggirello, Jack E.; Bonar, Scott A.; Feuerbacher, Olin G.; Simons, Lee H. (2020). "Use of Underwater Videography to Quantify Conditions Utilized by Endangered Moapa Dace While Spawning". North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 40 (1): 17–28. doi:10.1002/nafm.10356. ISSN   1548-8675. S2CID   214003109.
  8. Ruggirello, J. E., Bonar, S. A., Feuerbacher, O. G., Simons, L. H., & Powers, C. (2018). Propagation of Endangered Moapa Dace. Copeia, 106(4), 652–662. https://doi.org/10.1643/ot-18-036