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Ptychocheilus grandis

(Ayers, 1854)

Sacramento Pikeminnow

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 15 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102402
Element CodeAFCJB35010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCypriniformes
FamilyLeuciscidae
GenusPtychocheilus
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
See Carney and Page (1990) for a diagnosis and information on meristic variation. See Mayden et al. (1991) for a morphometric phylogenetic analysis of the genera MYLOPHARODON and PTYCHOCHEILUS (no taxonomic changes were proposed).
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-09-25
Change Date1996-09-25
Range Extent Comments
Sacramento-San Joaquin, Pajaro-Salinas, Russian River, upper Pit River, and Clear Lake drainages, California (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 1991). Recently introduced in Eel River, California (Carney and Page 1990).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of subpopulations and locations.
Threat Impact Comments
Localized threats may exist, but on a range-wide scale no major threats are known.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Larger and clearer intermittent and permanent streams (with summer temperatures in excess of 15 C) (Lee et al. 1980). Rocky and sandy pools and runs of small to large rivers; common in clear, warm streams (Page and Burr 1991). Usually in undisturbed habitat; rare or absent where introduced predatory fishes plentiful. Usually spawns in streams in gravel riffles where water temperatures exceed 14 C. Populations in reservoirs may spawn near shore on gravel areas (Moyle 1976). Eggs adhere to rocks and gravel.

Ecology

Large individuals sedentary (based on daytime summer observations, Brown 1990). Oldest Sacramento squawfish on record was 9 years old (Moyle 1976).

Reproduction

Sexually mature by beginning of 3rd or 4th summer. Migrates upstream to spawn in April and May. Fecundity probably high; one 50 cm SL female contained 17,730 eggs (Moyle 1976). Fry observed schooling soon after adult spawning.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Roadless Areas (15)
California (15)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
Damon ButteModoc National Forest25,022
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
Oat Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,223
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Skeleton GladeMendocino National Forest9,237
Snow MountainMendocino National Forest14,457
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
References (13)
  1. Brown, L. R. 1990. Age, growth, feeding, and behavior of Sacramento squawfish (<i>Ptychocheilus grandis</i>) in Bear Creek, Colusa Co., California. Southwestern Naturalist 35:249-260.
  2. Carney, D. A., and L. M. Page. 1990. Meristic characteristics and zoogeography of the genus <i>Ptychocheilus</i> (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Copeia 1990:171-181.
  3. 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.
  4. Master, L. L. and A. L. Stock. 1998. Synoptic national assessment of comparative risks to biological diversity and landscape types: species distributions. Summary Report submitted to Environmental Protection Agency. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA. 36 pp.
  5. Mayden, R. L., W. J. Rainboth, and D. G. Buth. 1991. Phylogenetic systematics of the cyprinid genera <i>Mylopharodon</i> and <i>Ptychocheilus</i>: comparative morphometry. Copeia 1991:819-834.
  6. Moyle, P. B. 1976a. Inland fishes of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 405 pp.
  7. Moyle, P. B. 2002. Inland fishes of California. Revised and expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley. xv + 502 pp.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.