Gila ditaenia
Miller, 1945
Sonora Chub
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105596
Element CodeAFCJB13090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyLeuciscidae
GenusGila
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
Hybridization with an apparently unnamed species of Gila has been recorded in the Rio de la Conception basin of Sonora, Mexico (Copeia 1992:697-703).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2012-02-08
Change Date2012-02-08
Edition Date2012-02-08
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Small range in Arizona and adjacent Sonora, Mexico; perhaps still common and widespread in the small range, but vulnerable to natural and human-caused changes in habitat (e.g., dewatering) and to introductions of exotic fishes.
Range Extent Comments
Range includes Sycamore (Bear) Canyon, Santa Cruz County, southern Arizona, and adjacent Sonora, Mexico (Rio de la Concepcion; Williams et al. 1989, Page and Burr 2011). In Arizona, this species is restricted to Sycamore Creek, Penasco Creek (intermittent flow), an unnamed tributary, and Yank's Spring (impounded, perennial), in Sycamore Canyon, and in California Gulch, west of Nogales, in the Coronado National Forest. Two pools along the unnamed tributary, just above its confluence with Sycamore Creek, support the largest concentration of this species.
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by at least several distinct occurrences (subpopulations). Minckley and Marsh (2009) mapped about 18-20 collection sites in Arizona and Mexico; these represent perhaps not more than 10 locations (as defined by IUCN).
Threat Impact Comments
Threatened status is due to restricted distribution and vulnerability to habitat alteration, especially in dry years; potential threats include introduction of exotic fishes, water pollution, stream flow depletion (e.g., by humans or as a result of climate change), and siltation from mining. Apparently this species is not threatened by hybridization with another Gila species in northwestern Mexico (Copeia 1992:697-703).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Habitat includes intermittent streams; distributed throughout the stream system when flow is adequate, restricted to permanent rocky and sandy pools during dry periods; stream pools, near cliffs, boulders, or other cover in the channel; headsprings and seeps (Lee et al. 1980, Minckley and Marsh 2009, Page and Burr 2011).
Ecology
Becomes concentrated in restricted pools during seasonal drought, where predation by belostomatid hemipeterans is severe (Lee et al. 1980).
Reproduction
Spawns in early spring (February-April) based on young in collections and adults in reddened breeding coloration (Lee et al. 1980).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Unknown | Unknown | Moderate - low |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Unknown | Unknown | Moderate - low |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive - restricted | Unknown | Moderate - low |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive - restricted | Unknown | Moderate - low |
| 9 - Pollution | Unknown | Unknown | Moderate - low |
| 9.2 - Industrial & military effluents | Unknown | Unknown | Moderate - low |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 11.2 - Droughts | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (2)
Arizona (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Tumacacori | Coronado National Forest | 44,594 |
| Tumacacori | Coronado National Forest | 44,594 |
References (18)
- 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.
- 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.
- Marsh, Paul C. (Center for Environmental Studies, Arizona State University). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC.
- 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. (with the collaboration of W. L. Minckley and S. M. Norris). 2005 [actually published in 2006]. Freshwater fishes of Mexico. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 490 pp.
- Minckley, W. L. 1973. Fishes of Arizona. Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, Arizona. 293 pp.
- Minckley, W. L., and P. C. Marsh. 2009. Inland fishes of the greater Southwest: chronicle of a vanishing biota. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona, 426 pp.
- Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
- Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
- 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.
- 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). 1986. Final rule to determine the Sonora chub to be a threatened species and determine its critical habitat. Federal Register 51:16042-7.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings for Four Species. Federal Register 87(162):51635-51639.
- 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.