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Home/Species/ Gila Topminnow

Poeciliopsis occidentalis

(Baird and Girard, 1853)

Gila Topminnow

G3Vulnerable Found in 84 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
EESA Status
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101756
Element CodeAFCNC05021
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCyprinodontiformes
FamilyPoeciliidae
GenusPoeciliopsis
USESAE
Synonyms
Poeciliopsis occidentalis occidentalis(Baird and Girard, 1853)
Other Common Names
Gila topminnow (incl. Yaqui) (EN)
Concept Reference
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Based on patterns of genetic variation in microsatellite loci and a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus, Hedrick et al. (2001) suggested that subspecies occidentalis (Gila topminnow) and sonoriensis (Yaqui topminnow) be recognized as distinct species. Nelson et al. (2004) acknowledged this proposal but deferred adoption of the split pending further studies. Miller (2005), Minckley and Marsh (2009), and Page and Burr (2011) recognized occidentalis and sonoriensis as distinct species.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-07-22
Change Date1996-09-20
Edition Date2022-07-22
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2006), rev. B. Young (2022)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 80
Rank Reasons
Small range in the Gila River system in southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico; has declined due to habitat loss/degradation (e.g., dewatering) and impacts of exotic species, especially Gambusia affinis.
Range Extent Comments
Native range: Gila River system in Arizona and extreme western New Mexico, USA; Rios de la Concepcion and Sonora, Sonora, Mexico. Currently occurs in the Gila river drainage, Arizona, particularly in the upper Santa Cruz River, Sonoita and Cienega creeks, and the middle Gila River; and in the Rio Sonora, Rio de la Concepcion, and Santa Cruz River (Weedman 1998). Extirpated in New Mexico; later reintroduced in New Mexico into a small pond on the Red Rock Wildlife Area, north of Lordsburg, in 1989; there is some question as to whether the fishes will be able to survive the cold winters of that area (Sublette et al. 1990).
Occurrences Comments
Currently restricted to 14 natural localities in Arizona, plus additional sites in Mexico (Weedman 1998). More than 200 reintroductions or dispersals from reintroductions have occurred at 175 wild locations (Weedman 1998). Eighteen wild populations and 12 captive populations remained in 1997 (Weedman 1998).

According to Hedrick et al. (2001) this fish now exists naturally in the USA in only four isolated Arizona watersheds in eight populations; other populations exist as a result of extensive restocking efforts, and at least one site on the Santa Cruz River appears to have been recently naturally recolonized.
Threat Impact Comments
Factors involved in the decline include habitat destruction (e.g., from groundwater pumping and water diversion) and introduction of exotic species, especially Gambusia affinis (detrimental effect may be due to predation on juvenile Poeciliopsis). May be able to coexist with Gambusia affinis in large, complex habitats.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Lowland and some upland streams of desert and grasslands, and margins of large, lowland rivers. Typical inhabitant of vegetated springs, brooks, and margins and backwaters of larger bodies of water (Lee et al. 1980). Prefers shallow, warm, fairly quiet waters but also can be found in moderate currents and depths up to 1 m; permanent and intermittent streams, marshes; preferred habitat has dense mats of algae and debris (usually along stream margins or below riffles) and sandy substrate sometimes covered with mud and debris (Matthews and Moseley 1990).

Reproduction

In some areas reproduces throughout the year; in other areas breeding prolonged throughout spring and summer. Interval between broods apparently about 24 to 28 days. Depending on their size adults produce 1-15 young/brood (Minckley 1973). Life span apparently is about one year.
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLAND
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS1Yes
New MexicoS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (84)
Arizona (61)
AreaForestAcres
Arnold MesaTonto National Forest249
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Ash CreekPrescott National Forest7,663
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
Black River CanyonApache-Sitgreaves National Forests11,817
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Boulder CanyonCoconino National Forest4,554
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Campbell BlueApache-Sitgreaves National Forests7,003
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
CenterfireApache-Sitgreaves National Forests13,130
Cherry CreekTonto National Forest11,371
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Cimarron HillsCoconino National Forest5,303
FritschePrescott National Forest14,190
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Grief HillPrescott National Forest12,535
HackberryPrescott National Forest914
HackberryCoconino National Forest17,885
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Hot AirApache-Sitgreaves National Forests31,712
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest1,165
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Lower Romero WSRCoronado National Forest10
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Mitchell PeakApache-Sitgreaves National Forests35,398
MuldoonPrescott National Forest5,821
NolanApache-Sitgreaves National Forests6,780
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
Painted BluffsApache-Sitgreaves National Forests43,118
PicachoTonto National Forest4,969
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest6,518
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousPrescott National Forest3,129
PipestemApache-Sitgreaves National Forests34,598
SalomeTonto National Forest2,932
Salt HouseApache-Sitgreaves National Forests21,848
Santa RitaCoronado National Forest6,078
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
SunsetApache-Sitgreaves National Forests28,948
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,533
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
Walker MountainCoconino National Forest6,382
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
WinchesterCoronado National Forest13,459
New Mexico (23)
AreaForestAcres
Apache MountainGila National Forest17,506
Aspen MountainGila National Forest23,784
Canyon CreekGila National Forest9,824
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Blue Range WildernessGila National Forest1,980
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Eagle PeakGila National Forest34,016
Elk MountainGila National Forest6,550
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Hell HoleGila National Forest19,553
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Mother HubbardGila National Forest5,895
NolanGila National Forest13,051
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Stone CanyonGila National Forest6,801
T BarGila National Forest6,823
Taylor CreekGila National Forest16,639
Wagon TongueGila National Forest11,411
Wahoo MountainGila National Forest23,122
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