Crenichthys baileyi grandis
Williams and Wilde, 1981
Hiko White River Springfish
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106000
Element CodeAFCNB01013
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSubspecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCyprinodontiformes
FamilyGoodeidae
GenusCrenichthys
Concept ReferenceDeacon, J. E., and J. E. Williams. 1984. Annotated list of the fishes of Nevada. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 97(1):103-118.
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-09-20
Change Date1996-09-20
Edition Date2010-12-02
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank ReasonsSmall population occupies a few springs in Nevada; exotic fishes are the primary threat; excessive cattle grazing is detrimental.
Range Extent CommentsEndemic to Crystal and Hiko springs of pluvial White River drainage in White River system, Pahranagat Valley, Lincoln County, southeastern Nevada. Extirpated from Hiko Spring in 1967; later reintroduced. A refugium population exists in Blue Link Spring far outside the native range.
Occurrences CommentsA few occurrences at most.
Threat Impact CommentsThe original population in Hiko Spring was extirpated from the spring and its outflow stream due to habitat modification for irrigation in 1963, and the later introduction of mosquitofish, shortfin mollies, and largemouth bass. The Crystal Spring population has declined to dangerously low levels due to predation and competition with convict cichlids and shortfin mollies; the nonnative species invaded Crystal Spring from Ash Springs. The Blue Link Spring population declined in 1990 when water flow into the reservoir decreased, and the water cooled to unfavorable temperatures. The population is now flourishing after the spring box water supply valves were repaired, and 150 fish from Hiko Spring were introduced to aid in repopulating the spring. The species continues to be threatened by habitat modification, and competition, predation, and parasitism from exotic species. Source: USFWS, Nevada Fish & Wildlife Office.
Habitat changes associated with the presence of cattle may result in increased mortality (Taylor et al. 1989).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Prefers spring heads and quiet waters along outflows.
Reproduction
Spawns in warm summer months; eggs are laid and fertilized one at a time. Incubation lasts 5-7 days (La Rivers 1962).
Palustrine HabitatsHERBACEOUS WETLAND
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Nevada | S1 | Yes |
Roadless Areas (17)
Nevada (16)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|
| Bald Mtn. | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 41,598 |
| Cottonwood | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 18,161 |
| Currant - East Slope | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 10,101 |
| Grant - Irwin | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 11,196 |
| Grant - Scofield | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 3,265 |
| Grant - Wiregrass | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 8,541 |
| Indian Creek | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 9,996 |
| Lower Terrace | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 992 |
| Red Mountain | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 30,242 |
| The Cove 1 | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 2,847 |
| The Cove 2 | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 51 |
| The Cove 3 | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 1,728 |
| Upper Terrace | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 120 |
| Ward Mountain | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 15,927 |
| White Pine Mtn. | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 25,244 |
| Wilhoites | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 11,297 |
South Dakota (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|
| Indian Creek | Buffalo Gap National Grassland | 24,666 |
References (20)
- Courtenay, W. R., Jr., J. R. Deacon, D. W. Sada. R. C. Allan and G. L. Vinyard. 1985. Comparative status of fishes along the course of the pluvial White River, Nevada. Southwestern Naturalist 30(4):503-524.
- Deacon, J. E., and J. E. Williams. 1984. Annotated list of the fishes of Nevada. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 97(1):103-118.
- Fricke, R., W. N. Eschmeyer, and R. van der Laan (eds). 2025. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. Online. Available: http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp. Accessed 2025.
- Jelks, H. L., S. J. Walsh, N. M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D. A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N. E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J. S. Nelson, S. P. Platania, B. A. Porter, C. B. Renaud, J. Jacobo Schmitter-Soto, E. B. Taylor, and M.L. Warren, Jr. 2008. Conservation status of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fishes. Fisheries 33(8):372-407.
- La Rivers, I. 1962. Fishes and Fisheries of Nevada. Nevada State Fish and Game Commission, Carson City, Nevada. 782 pp.
- Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
- Matthews, J.R. and C.J. Moseley (eds.). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, Mussels, Crustaceans, Snails, Insects, and Arachnids. xiii + pp. 561-1180. Beacham Publications, Inc., Washington, D.C.
- Miller, R.R., and M.L. Smith. 1986. Origin and geography of fishes on central Mexico. Pages 487-517 in C.H. Hocutt and E.O. Wiley, editors. The zoogeography of North American freshwater fishes. John Wiley and Sons, New York, New York. xiii + 866 pp.
- Minckley, W. L., and J. E. Deacon. 1991. Battle Against Extinction: Native Fish Management in the American West. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. xviii + 517 pp.
- Minckley, W. L., G. K. Meffe, and D. L. Soltz. 1991a. Conservation and management of short-lived fishes: the cyprinodontoids. Pages 247-82 in W. L. Minckley and J. E. Deacon (editors). Battle Against Extinction: Native Fish Management in the American West. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona.
- Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
- Parenti, L. R. 1981. A phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of cyprinodontiform fishes (Teleostei, Atherinomorpha). Bulletin of the American Museum Natural History 168:335-557.
- Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
- Sigler, W. F., and J. W. Sigler. 1987. Fishes of the Great Basin: a natural history. University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada. xvi + 425 pp.
- Taylor, F. R., L. A. Gillman, and J. W. Pedretti. 1989. Impact of cattle on two isolated fish populations in Pahranagat Valley, Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 49:491-495.
- Tippie, D., J. E. Deacon, and C.-H. Ho. 1991. Effects of convict cichlids on growth and recruitment of White River springfish. Great Basin Naturalist 51:256-260.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1998. Recovery plan for the aquatic and riparian species of Pahranagat Valley. USFWS, Portland, Oregon. vi + 82 pp.
- Wilde, G. R. 1989. Foods and feeding periodicity of the White River springfish, <i>Crenichthyes baileyi</i>. Great Basin Naturalist 49:249-251.
- Williams, J. E., and G. R. Wilde. 1981. Taxonomic status and morphology of isolated populations of the White River springfish, <i>Crenichthys baileyi</i> (Cyprinodontidae). Southwestern Naturalist 25(4):485-503.
- Williams, J.E, J.E. Johnson, D.A. Hendrickson, S. Contreras-Balderas, J.D. Williams, M. Navarro-Mendoza, D.E. McAllister, and J.E. Deacon. 1989b. Fishes of North America endangered, threatened or of special concern: 1989. Fisheries 14(6):2-20.