Cyprinodon diabolis
Wales, 1930
Devil's Hole Pupfish
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Critically endangeredIUCN
Very high - highThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106259
Element CodeAFCNB02020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNCritically endangered
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCyprinodontiformes
FamilyCyprinodontidae
GenusCyprinodon
Other Common Names
Devils Hole pupfish (EN)
Concept Reference
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Individuals from Hoover Dam population are (were) larger in body size and may differ genetically from the Devils Hole population. Electrophoretic assays indicate that the detectable genetic variability of the Devils Hole pupfish is zero (Echelle 1991). See Echelle and Dowling (1992) for a phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA of CYPRINODON in the Death Valley System, California and Nevada; apparently there are two divergent clades, one including C. RADIOSUS and C. MACULARIUS, and the other including C. NEVADENSIS, C. SALINUS, C. DIABOLIS, and C. FONTINALIS (Guzman Basin, Mexico). See Echelle and Echelle (1993) for an allozyme perspective on mtDNA variation and further phylogenetic analyses.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2011-11-18
Change Date1996-09-20
Edition Date2011-11-18
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G., and E. Miskow
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Wild population occurs only in Devils Hole, Ash Meadows area, Death Valley National Park, Nevada, total wild population has varied over recent decades from a few dozen to a few hundred individuals; highly vulnerable to vandalism and factors that affect water level/quality.
Range Extent Comments
Range is restricted to a single, deep limestone pool at the bottom of Devils Hole, Ash Meadows, Death Valley National Park, Nevada (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 2011). Artificial populations exist elsewhere.
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by one natural occurrence. One refugium population and two temporary locations for larval rearing.
Threat Impact Comments
Formerly threatened by lowered water levels associated with excessive groundwater extraction in the area. Habitat is fenced, and public access is prohibited, but the site remains vulnerable to vandalism (including introduction of non-native aquatic species) and factors that affect water level/quality.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Habitat is a deep limestone pool, about 15 meters below the land surface. Water temperature is 32.8 to 33.9 C, dissolved oxygen 1.8 to 3.3 ppm (Lee et al. 1980). Pupfish rarely leaves algae-covered ledge at western end of pool.
Ecology
Population fluctuates yearly to very low numbers in winter.
Reproduction
Apparently breeds throughout the year but mainly April-May.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | Moderate - low |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | Moderate - low |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | Moderate - low |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | Moderate - low |
Roadless Areas (15)
Nevada (15)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston - Clark | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 4,674 |
| Charleston - Macks Cyn | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 11,378 |
| Charleston - Mcfarland | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 2,465 |
| North Stirling | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 1,929 |
| Stirling - Big Thunder | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 2,699 |
| Stirling - Clark A | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 125 |
| Stirling - Clark B | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 741 |
| Stirling - Jaybird | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 2,468 |
| Stirling - Johnnie | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 1,449 |
| Stirling - West A | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 196 |
| Stirling - West B | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 88 |
| Stirling - West C | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 36 |
| Stirling - West D | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 134 |
| Stirling - West E | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 1,145 |
| Stirling - Wheeler | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 3,044 |
References (22)
- Andersen, M. E., and J. E. Deacon. 2001. Population size of Devils Hole pupfish (<i>Cyprinodon diabolis</i>) correlates with water level. Copeia 2001:224-228.
- Clemmer, Glenn (Nevada Natural Heritage Program). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. 1997.
- Deacon, J. D., et al. 1980. Devil's Hole pupfish recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 45 pp.
- Deacon, J. E., and C. D. Williams. 1991. Ash Meadows and the legacy of the Devils Hole pupfish. Pages 69-87 in W. L. Minckley and J. E. Deacon, eds. Battle against extinction: native fish management in the American West. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
- Echelle, A. A. 1991. Conservation genetics and genic diversity in freshwater fishes of western North America. Pages 141-153 in W. L. Minckley and J. E. Deacon, eds. Battle against extinction: native fish management in the American West. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
- Echelle, A. A., and A. F. Echelle. 1993. Allozyme perspective on mitochondrial DNA variation and evolution of the Death Valley pupfishes (Cyprinodontidae: CYPRINODON). Copeia 1993:275-287.
- Echelle, A. A., and T. E. Dowling. 1992. Mitochondrial DNA variation and evolution of the Death Valley pupfishes (CYPRINODON, Cyprinodontidae). Evolution 46:193-206.
- 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.
- 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.
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- Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
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- 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.
- State Natural Heritage Data Centers. 1996b. Aggregated element occurrence data from all U.S. state natural heritage programs, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Navajo Nation and the District of Columbia: Export of freshwater fish and mussel records west of the Mississippi River in 1997. Science Division, The Nature Conservancy.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1967. Native fish and wildlife: endangered species. Federal Register 32(48):4001.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.