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Tiaroga cobitis

Girard, 1856

Loach Minnow

G2Imperiled Found in 56 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
Very highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100258
Element CodeAFCJB37140
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyLeuciscidae
GenusTiaroga
Synonyms
Rhinichthys cobitis(Girard, 1856)
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
Placement in the genus Tiaroga follows Smith et al. (2017) and Page et al.(2023). Previously, Coburn and Cavender (1992) and Woodman (1992) concluded that this species should be placed in the genus Rhinichthys.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-07-22
Change Date1999-12-23
Edition Date2022-07-22
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G., rev. B. Young (2022)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Occurs in several streams in Arizona and New Mexico; extirpated from 80-85 percent of former range, due to damming, stream channelization, excessive water withdrawal resulting in dewatering of habitat, and effects of exotic fishes.
Range Extent Comments
Formerly this species was locally common throughout much of the Verde, Salt, San Pedro, San Francisco, and Gila (upstream from Phoenix) river systems, Arizona, New Mexico, USA, and Sonora, Mexico, occupying suitable habitat in both the mainstreams and perennial tributaries, at elevations up to about 2200 meters. It is extirpated throughout much of its former range in Arizona. Historically, it occurred in the San Pedro River, Sonora, Mexico, but habitat there has been largely destroyed by diversion of water for agriculture.

Loach minnows are now restricted to the following areas: portions of the Gila River and its tributaries, the West, Middle, and East Fork Gila River (Grant, Catron, and Hidalgo counties, New Mexico); San Francisco and Tularosa rivers and their tributaries, Negrito and Whitewater creeks (Catron County, New Mexico); Blue River and its tributaries, Dry Blue, Campbell Blue, Pace, and Frieborn creeks (Greenlee County, Arizona, and Catron County, New Mexico); Aravaipa Creek and its tributaries, Turkey and Deer creeks (Graham and Pinal counties, Arizona); Eagle Creek (Graham and Greenlee counties, Arizona); North Fork East Fork Black River (Apache and Greenlee counties, Arizona); and possibly the White River and its tributaries, the East and North Fork White River (Apache, Gila, and Navajo counties, Arizona). (USFWS 2012).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by more than 10 distinct occurrences (subpopulations) and locations (as defined by IUCN).
Threat Impact Comments
Currently, only small, isolated populations remain, with limited to no opportunities for interchange between populations or expansion of existing areas, making the species more vulnerable to threats including reproductive isolation. Opportunities for range expansion are limited by dams, reservoirs, dewatering, and nonnative species distribution. The two primary threats (nonnative aquatic species competition and predation and alteration or diminishment of stream flows) are persistent, and research indicates that the combination of the two is leading to declines. The ongoing drought and climate conditions aggravate the loss of water in some areas, and future water development projects have been identified. Source: USFWS (2012).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species lives on the bottom in permanent, flowing, unpolluted creeks and small to medium rivers of low to moderate gradient, low amounts of fine sediment and substrate embeddedness, abundant aquatic insects, and a healthy, intact riparian community with moderate to high bank stability; typically on turbulent riffles, sometimes in association with filamentous algae; habitat resembles that of many eastern darters (Percidae) (Lee et al. 1980). It is an obligate riffle-dweller that occurs in shallow (<20 cm) water over gravel/ cobble substrate (Rinne 1989, Propst and Bestgen 1991) or in interstices between rocks, often in association with eddying currents (Sublette et al. 1990). Adults inhabit moderate to swift (15-100 cm/sec), shallow (3-40 cm) water with gravel, cobble, and rubble substrates; juvenile habitat is similar but includes also sand substrates (Federal Register, 8 March 1994).

Loach minnows persist mainly in streams having relatively natural flow regimes and a predominance of native species (Propst and Bestgen 1991). Recurrent flooding is important in keeping substrate free of sediments and in helping this species maintain a competitive edge over invading non-native fishes.

Eggs are laid in cavities under flattened cobble (or uncemented cobble and rubble) in slow to swift (3-85 cm/sec), shallow (3-30 cm) water; eggs adhere to under surface (Sublette et al. 1990, Vives and Minckley 1990); males guard cavities and eggs. Larvae apparently use low velocity nursery areas: 0-30 cm/sec, 3-30 cm deep, with sand, gravel, and cobble substrates and abundant instream cover (Sublette et al. 1990; Propst and Bestgen 1991; Federal Register, 8 March 1994).

Reproduction

In New Mexico, most spawners were in their second summer (Propst and Bestgen 1991). Spawning occurs in Arizona mainly March-June, with some breeding December-February; nests with eggs found also in September (Vives and Minckley 1990). Spring (e.g., April) spawning recorded in New Mexico. Female produces between 250 to 1,200 ova (Minckley 1973). Eggs hatch in about 6 days at 21 C. Male may provide some care to developing eggs (female also?) (Vives and Minckley 1990).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS1Yes
New MexicoS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/usePervasive - largeExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11.2 - DroughtsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (56)
Arizona (34)
AreaForestAcres
Arnold MesaTonto National Forest249
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Ash CreekPrescott National Forest7,663
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black River CanyonApache-Sitgreaves National Forests11,817
Boulder CanyonCoconino National Forest4,554
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Campbell BlueApache-Sitgreaves National Forests7,003
CenterfireApache-Sitgreaves National Forests13,130
Cimarron HillsCoconino National Forest5,303
FritschePrescott National Forest14,190
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Grief HillPrescott National Forest12,535
HackberryCoconino National Forest17,885
HackberryPrescott National Forest914
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
Hot AirApache-Sitgreaves National Forests31,712
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
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
PipestemApache-Sitgreaves National Forests34,598
Salt HouseApache-Sitgreaves National Forests21,848
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
SunsetApache-Sitgreaves National Forests28,948
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Walker MountainCoconino National Forest6,382
WinchesterCoronado National Forest13,459
New Mexico (22)
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
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Eagle PeakGila National Forest34,016
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
T BarGila National Forest6,823
Taylor CreekGila National Forest16,639
Wagon TongueGila National Forest11,411
References (29)
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  3. Johnston, C. E., and L. M. Page. 1992. The evolution of complex reproductive strategies in North American minnows (Cyprinidae). Pages 600-621 in R. L. Mayden, editor. Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. xxvi + 969 pp.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
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  20. State Natural Heritage Data Centers. 1996a. Aggregated element occurrence data from all U.S. state natural heritage programs, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Navajo Nation and the District of Columbia. Science Division, The Nature Conservancy.
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  23. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 10 December 1999. Proposed designation of critical habitat for the spikedace and the loach minnow. Federal Register 64(237):69323-69355.
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  26. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 23 February 2012. Endangered status and designations of critical habitat for spikedace and loach minnow. Federal Register 77(36):10810-10932.
  27. Vives, S. P., and W. L. Minckley. 1990. Autumn spawning and other reproductive notes on loach minnow, a threatened cyprinid fish of the American southwest. Southwestern Naturalist 35:451-454.
  28. 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.
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