Overview
The Yaqui chub (Gila purpurea), is one of several species of fish known as the Rio Yaqui Fishes, some of which include: Yaqui beautiful shiner (Cyprinella formosa), Yaqui topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis sonoriensis), Yaqui catfish (Ictalurus pricei), Yaqui sucker (Catostomus bernardini), Longfin Dace (Agostia chrysogaster sp.), Mexican stoneroller (Campostoma ornatum), and the roundtail chub (Gila robusta). In 1856, C. Girard described the Yaqui chub from the San Bernardino Creek, Rio Yaqui, just south of the Arizona-Sonora border and later on 1896, C. Rutter confirmed this. This species often inhabits pools and undercut banks in permanent streams, particularly where vegetative structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure is adequate. Yaqui chub are restricted to within about three kilometers south of the international border in Sonora, as documented by R.R. Miller in 2005.
Scientific Name
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Similar Species
The desert chub (Gila eremica) was originally grouped with the Yaqui chub as the same species, but was separated in 1991, as noted by B.D. DeMaris. It is more widespread and occupies several tributaries of the Rio Yaqui watershed.
Life Cycle
Yaqui chub have high reproductive potential, where large populations can develop quickly from a few adults, as documented by B.D. DeMaris and W.L. Minckley in 1993. Maturity can happen in the first year, mostly during the warm summer months. Spawning occurs throughout warmer temperatures with the highest activity during the spring. Fry, or young fish, will spatially separate from larger individuals by occupying areas near shore and in shallow water.
Behavior
Yaqui chub naturally occupy the deeper parts of pools and ponds, where they can seek cover during the daylight. Cover for Yaqui chub can include aquatic vegetation, submerged logs and branches, as well as rocks.
Physical Characteristics
Yaqui chub are considered a medium-sized minnow, where adults rarely exceed 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length. The head and anterior portion of the body are thick and narrows in posterior region.
Yaqui chub are generally dark colored, but in sunlight can exhibit combinations of green, blues and purples. The most prominent feature of Yaqui chub is a dark, nearly black, triangular caudal spot, which is located at the base of the tail.
Food
Yaqui chub feed mostly on algae, insects and detrital material, as documented by D.L. Galat and D. Gerhardt in 1987.
Habitat
Yaqui chub favor springhead habitats and are found in deeper pools of small springs near underwater structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure , like vegetation and submerged woody structure, at elevations between 4,000 to 6,000 feet (1,219 to 1,828 meters). Yaqui chub are naturally associated with springhead pools and have been introduced to artificial ponds.
Areas where ground water meets the surface.
Geography
Historically, Yaqui chub were found throughout the Rio Yaqui drainage in Cochise County in extreme southeastern Arizona, including the section of San Bernardino Creek known as Black Draw, Whitewater Creek, Black Wash, also known as Astin Wash, and the Morse Canyon portion of the Willcox Playa. It was also found in the section of Rio San Bernardino known as San Bernardino Creek, in Sonora, Mexico.
The Rio Yaqui Basin comprises approximately 73,000 square kilometers, of which only 2% occurs in the United States. The United States portion of the Rio Yaqui drainage receives runoff from the Swisshelm, Chiricahua, Mule, Pedregosa, Perilla and Peloncillo mountains.
Currently, Yaqui chub are found as introduced populations in Leslie Canyon in the Swisshelm Mountains, in artificial ponds at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, and in cattle tanks and pools associated with West Turkey Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains.
Timeline
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