Bigmouth chub
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Leuciscinae
Genus: Nocomis
Species:
N. platyrhynchus
Binomial name
Nocomis platyrhynchus
Lachner & R. E. Jenkins, 1971

The bigmouth chub (Nocomis platyrhynchus) is a species of fish native to West Virginia.

Description

The bigmouth chub has a body length that averages 15.2 centimeters and can reach up to 21.4 centimeters.[2] The chub has an elongated body that is nearly circular in cross section. It has a triangular head and a pointy snout. The mouth of the chub is medium-sized and has a barbell on each side.[3]

The chub has eight dorsal fin rays, eight pelvic fin rays, seven anal fin rays, and fourteen to seventeen pectoral fin rays.[3]

The fish is covered with cycloid scales. The scales on the chub's dorsal section, or top of the fish, have brown pigment.[3] The scales on the ventral section, or bottom of the fish, lack pigment and are white in appearance.[3]

Habitat

It is generally found in pools and fast moving waterways in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia. Many populations are located in the New River of West Virginia and its tributaries. The fish prefers clear rivers with warm temperatures. The substrate of rivers inhabited by the bigmouth chub ranges from pebbles to boulders. It avoids the shallowest parts of rivers and waterways, and tends to be found near substrate.[1]

Reproduction

The chub reproduces through spawning. Spawning occurs in gravel spawning mounds created by the male. The mounds tend to be located in areas with small to large-sized gravel and with medium water speeds.[1]

Conservation status

It is ranked as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The fish is not seen as at risk for extinction due to its large and stable population size, large habitat range and a lack of wide-scale threats to its survival.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 NatureServe (2013). "Nocomis platyrhynchus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T202277A18231769. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202277A18231769.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer. "Nocomis platyrhynchus". Fish Base. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Stauffer, Jay (2007). Fishes of West Virginia. Academy of Natural Sciences. p. 114. ISBN 9781422317839. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
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