Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Leuciscidae (Minnows) > Plagopterinae
Etymology: Plagopterus: Greek, plagios = oblique + Greek, pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cope.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 36°N - 32°N
North America: Virgin and Gila River systems (both lower Colorado River drainage) in Utah, Nevada and Arizona, USA. Extant only in Gila River system.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26186); max. reported age: 4 years (Ref. 12193)
Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. Anal fin with 9-10 rays; ventral-fin origin before dorsal-fin origin; large, forked caudal fin; pharyngeal teeth 1,5-4,1; scales absent; wide, flat head; body compressed at rear; subterminal mouth on long, rounded snout; barbel at corner of mouth; fairly small eye high on head; dusky gray above; brilliant silver side, often with blue sheen, sometimes faint yellow at paired fin bases; breeding males with pink lower side (Ref. 86798).
Occurs in fast sandy runs and pools of small to medium rivers, usually in warm turbid water (Ref. 86798). Most commonly found in shallow, moderately flowing water over shifting sand substrates (Ref. 26186). Spawning in the Virgin river begins in April to May and continues through August (Ref. 26186).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 2011. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 663p. (Ref. 86798)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01148 (0.00487 - 0.02706), b=3.02 (2.81 - 3.23), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=4).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).