Agosia chrysogaster sp 1
Encyclopedia
The Yaqui longfin dace, official name Agosia chrysogaster sp. 1, is a small fish of the American Southwest
and northern Mexico
.
, having the same average length of 3.5 inches and similar colors. Its silvery gray and olive color pattern is similar to the Gila dace, however the Yaqui dace can sometimes have golden speckles along its body. The lower abdomen can be white as well. The Gila and Yaqui longfin daces both have black spots on their caudal fins
, and both are fusiform, meaning they have long thin scales. They also have a triangular dorsal fin
with the absence of a dark spot.
. However, it is also found in northern Mexico, as the fish migrate south to warmer waters during the winter months. The Yaqui dace was re-introduced into the Yaqui River
on the San Bernardino Wildlife Refuge
and the Leslie Creek Wildlife Refuge
including West Turkey Creek at Rucker Canyon
. The Yaqui dace has the same elevation restrictions as the Gila dace, ranging only below 1484 meters, with records of up to 2030 meters. They are found in Desert Scrub
to Madrean Oak Woodlands.
within the first year of birth, and create depressions in the sand to hide their eggs. This helps them provide a safe place for development, allowing minimal disturbance from other species or predators. Studies have shown a positive correlation
between fecundity and fish length, and it is suggested that the same correlation exists between male length and mating success.
s, zooplankton
, and other forms of algae
as circumstances allow. The life span
of the Yaqui dace is three years and they are very susceptible to predation, more so than its relative the Gila dace. Crayfish and other introduced species feed on the Yaqui dace.
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
and northern Mexico
Mexican Plateau
The Central Mexican Plateau, also known as the Mexican Altiplano or Altiplanicie Mexicana, is a large arid-to-semiarid plateau that occupies much of northern and central Mexico...
.
Description
The Yaqui longfin dace is similar to the Gila longfin daceAgosia chrysogaster chrysogaster
- Description :The Gila Longfin Dace , is the only Agosia species found in Arizona. The only other form of fish closely related to Agosia is the Rio Yaqui, which also occurs in Arizona. The body of the fish is “Fusiform”, meaning it has very small scales that travel laterally along the body...
, having the same average length of 3.5 inches and similar colors. Its silvery gray and olive color pattern is similar to the Gila dace, however the Yaqui dace can sometimes have golden speckles along its body. The lower abdomen can be white as well. The Gila and Yaqui longfin daces both have black spots on their caudal fins
Fish anatomy
Fish anatomy is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of water, which is much denser than air, holds a relatively small amount of dissolved oxygen, and absorbs more light than air does.- Body :...
, and both are fusiform, meaning they have long thin scales. They also have a triangular dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
with the absence of a dark spot.
Distribution
In Arizona, the Yaqui dace only occurs in the southeast, in Cochise CountyCochise County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*78.5% White*4.2% Black*1.2% Native American*1.9% Asian*0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*9.6% Other races*32.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. However, it is also found in northern Mexico, as the fish migrate south to warmer waters during the winter months. The Yaqui dace was re-introduced into the Yaqui River
Yaqui River
The Yaqui River is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, the Yaqui river is used for irrigation....
on the San Bernardino Wildlife Refuge
San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge
The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is located on the U.S.-Mexican border in Cochise County, Arizona. Situated at 3,720 to elevation in the bottom of a wide valley, the refuge encompasses a portion of the headquarters of the Yaqui River, which drains primarily western Chihuahua and eastern...
and the Leslie Creek Wildlife Refuge
Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge
The Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge area was established in 1988 to protect habitat for the endangered Yaqui Chub and Yaqui Topminnow...
including West Turkey Creek at Rucker Canyon
Rucker Canyon
Rucker Canyon is a major canyon draining the western central-south of the Chiricahua Mountains, the central landform of the eastern third of Cochise County, Arizona's extreme southeast, bordering southwest New Mexico. It is famous for historic Camp Rucker....
. The Yaqui dace has the same elevation restrictions as the Gila dace, ranging only below 1484 meters, with records of up to 2030 meters. They are found in Desert Scrub
Deserts and xeric shrublands
Deserts and xeric shrublands is a biome characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture.-Definition and occurrence:...
to Madrean Oak Woodlands.
Habitat
The habitat of the Yaqui dace is identical to that of the Gila dace, and it has the same wide range of water temperature preferences, being found from low and hot desert streams to mountain brooks with extremely cold water. They prefer brooks and streams that have sandy or gravely bottoms, typically with overhanging banks protecting them from predator or human observation. Their average water temperature preference is 23.89 degrees Celsius, with a water depth average of 0.18 meters. During water shortages, they seek refuge in algae and detritus mats of wetland habitats.Reproduction
Yaqui dace usually spawn in the spring from December to July, but extend the season into to September in low desert habitats. They reach sexual maturitySexual maturity
Sexual maturity is the age or stage when an organism can reproduce. It is sometimes considered synonymous with adulthood, though the two are distinct...
within the first year of birth, and create depressions in the sand to hide their eggs. This helps them provide a safe place for development, allowing minimal disturbance from other species or predators. Studies have shown a positive correlation
Correlation
In statistics, dependence refers to any statistical relationship between two random variables or two sets of data. Correlation refers to any of a broad class of statistical relationships involving dependence....
between fecundity and fish length, and it is suggested that the same correlation exists between male length and mating success.
Biology
Sediment discharge in river bottoms occurs during flooding seasons, and will cause the dace to swim directly into the currents avoiding the spraying of sediment into the gills. If drought occurs, the fish also seek refuge in wetland areas such as algae mats. They prevent desiccation by hiding under logs and stones. The wetlands provide detritus, a nutrient that these fish primarily eat, as the fish are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. They can also feed on invertebrateInvertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s, zooplankton
Zooplankton
Zooplankton are heterotrophic plankton. Plankton are organisms drifting in oceans, seas, and bodies of fresh water. The word "zooplankton" is derived from the Greek zoon , meaning "animal", and , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter"...
, and other forms of algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
as circumstances allow. The life span
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
of the Yaqui dace is three years and they are very susceptible to predation, more so than its relative the Gila dace. Crayfish and other introduced species feed on the Yaqui dace.
External links
- ITISItisItis may refer to* Integrated Taxonomic Information System, a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species...
"Agosia chrysogaster" - FishbaseFishBaseFishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish species . It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web...
"Agosia chrysogaster"