Species: Gila bicolor

Tui Chub

Species

Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

A highly variable minnow with a deep compressed body, fairly deep caudal peduncle, small rounded fins, and a small terminal to slightly subterminal mouth that does not extend to the eye; dorsum dusky olive to dark green, sides brassy brown (often mottled in adult), venter silver-white to yellow; fins clear to dusky-olive; dusky stripe along side in young; large individual may have red-orange lower sides and yellow to copper fins with red, pink, or orange base; 41-64 lateral scales; usually 8 dorsal rays, 7-8 anal rays; grows to 45 cm (Page and Burr 1991).

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Craniata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Cypriniformes

Family

Cyprinidae

Genus

Gila

NatureServe

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101469

Classification

Informal Taxonomy

Animals, Vertebrates - Fishes - Bony Fishes - Minnows and Carps

Formal Taxonomy

Animalia - Craniata - Actinopterygii - Cypriniformes - Cyprinidae - Gila - Geographic isolation in endorheic drainages in the western U.S. has led to formation of many distinctive forms (at least 13 subspecies), but relationships are unclear (Lee et al. 1980) and most forms remain undescribed (Moyle et al. 1989). There are many isolated populations that are morphologically similar (Moyle et al. 1989). A comprehensive study of intraspecific variation is needed (Page and Burr 1991, Starnes 1995).

Ecology and Life History

Habitat Type Description

Freshwater

Migration

false - true - false - Migrates seasonally between different habitats.

Non-migrant

false

Locally Migrant

true

Food Comments

Adults opportunistic. They feed on plant material, plankton, insect larvae, crustaceans, fish fry and fish eggs, etc. Young feed on zooplankton. Coarse-rakered form eats more plant material, fine-rakered form more zooplankton.

Reproduction Comments

Spawning peaks in June at low to mid-60s F in Pyramid Lake, ends by late July in Lake Tahoe. Multiple spawning by one female may be common. Eggs hatch in 10-12 days. Females mature usually at 2-3 years, males usually at 2 years.

Ecology Comments

May serve as a forage fish for large trout and largemouth bass. In some situations may overpopulate lakes and reservoirs and compete with trout.

Length

Conservation Status

NatureServe Global Status Rank

Global Status Last Reviewed

1996-09-13

Global Status Last Changed

1996-09-13

Other Status

PS - (Cowhead Lake tui chub) as endangered has been withdrawn (Federal Register, 11 October 2006).

Distribution

Conservation Status Map

Global Range

F - 20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles) - F - Range includes the Columbia River drainage in Washington and Oregon, and extends south in the Klamath River and upper Pit River drainages, and interior drainages of California and Nevada, to the Mohave River in southern California (Page and Burr 2011). Regarded as introduced in Idaho (C. Harris, pers. comm., 2000).

Global Range Code

Global Range Description

20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)

ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101469