What happened to the Tecopa pupfish?
It is thought to have disappeared because of alteration of its habitat and possibly also as a result of the introduction of competing, non-native fish. One of 12 kinds of pupfishes in the U.S., the 1-l/2-inch Tecopa could tolerate highly Sal&e waters and temperatures up to 110 degrees.
When was the Tecopa pupfish discovered?
The Tecopa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis calidae) was first described by Robert Miller in 1948 after six years of research. With a blunt head and dorsal fins close to the tail, these fishes were endemic to the Californian hot spring outflows in Tecopa at an altitude of 1,411 ft (430 m).
What do Tecopa pupfish eat?
Amargosa pupfish are diurnal feeders with a diet composed of mostly algae and cyanobacteria. They may also feed on small invertebrates such as chironomid larvae, ostracods, copepods, and mosquito larvae.
What do pupfish do?
Throughout the spring and summer months, males aggressively defend a small spawning and feeding territory. Female pupfish can lay anywhere from 50 to more than 800 eggs in a season. They are known to eat midge and mosquito larvae. Desert pupfish have been observed digging pits in search of food.
Is Tecopa pupfish extinct?
The Tecopa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis calidae) is an extinct subspecies of the Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis)….
| Tecopa pupfish | |
|---|---|
| Extinct (1979) (ESA) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
Where are pupfish found?
Pupfish are found in isolated aquatic habitats in the southwestern United States. Individual species are known to live in very small localities. The Devils Hole pupfish lives in only one area that is three-by-five feet across.
How many Devils Hole pupfish are left?
AMARGOSA VALLEY, NV – One of the world’s rarest fish species, the Devils Hole pupfish, has reached a population of 136 observable fish.
What does a Tecopa pupfish look like?
Description and behavior The fish were about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) in length. The dorsal fin was positioned closer to the tail than the head. The pelvic fin was small or sometimes absent, and had six lepidotrichia. Similar to some other Cyprinodons, breeding males displayed a bright blue coloration.
How many pupfish are left?
Since 1972, population counts have peaked at around 550 individuals. The April 2013 count showed only 35 remaining in the wild, but the number increased to 136 by spring 2019….
| Devils Hole pupfish | |
|---|---|
| Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |