Sacramento Splittail

Sacramento Splittail

Taxobox | name = Sacramento Splittail
status = EN
status_system = iucn2.3



image_width = 250px
image_caption = Adult splittail
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Cypriniformes
familia = Cyprinidae
genus = "Pogonichthys"
species = "P. macrolepidotus"
binomial = "Pogonichthys macrolepidotus"
binomial_authority = (Ayres, 1854)

The Sacramento Splittail, "Pogonichthys macrolepidotus", is a cyprinid fish native to the low-elevation waters of the Central Valley in California. It was first described by William O. Ayres in 1854. It is the sole living member of its genus, the Clear Lake splittail "P. ciscoides" having become extinct in the 1970s.

The distinctive feature of the splittail is the larger upper lobe of the tail fin. It also has tiny barbels at the corners of the mouth. The dorsal fin has 9-10 rays, while the pectoral fins have 16-19 rays, the pelvic fin 8-9 rays, and the anal fin 7-9 rays. Color is silver on the sides, with a dusky olive gray on the back; during the breeding season the fins pick up a red-orange tinge, and the males become darker and develop white tubercles on the head and at the bases of the fins.

They feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and detritus, generally in areas of low to moderate current. In Suisun Bay, opossum shrimp (mostly "Neomysis mercedis"), amphipods such as "Corophium", and copepods are favorite foods, while in the Sacramento Delta they eat clams, crustaceans, and insect larvae. During periods of high water levels (February/March), splittails will move into flooded areas to look for earthworms. The Sacramento splittail utilizes floodplain habitat for feeding and spawning, and depends upon floodplain habitat for spawning..

Range

Their range is the lower-elevation waters of the Central Valley, extending to San Francisco Bay. Although once found as far north as Redding, they are now only rarely seen in the upper Sacramento River. They were once caught from southern San Francisco Bay and in Coyote Creek (Santa Clara County), but are now restricted to the Sacramento Delta, Suisun Bay, and the lower parts of Sonoma Creek, Petaluma River and Napa River. They are tolerant of moderate levels of salinity and/or alkalinity.

tatus

Splittail were reclassified as a species of special concern by the US Fish and Wildlife Service on September 22, 2003 from their prior classification as threatened due to litigation. [Federal Register 68:55139; September 22, 2003 http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/animal_spp_acct/sac_splittail.htm] . The Central Valley's system of sloughs and backwaters maintained by annual flooding has greatly changed. The cause of the decline of this species is under investigation.

ources

* Listed as Endangered (EN A1c v2.3)
*
* Peter B. Moyle, "Inland Fishes of California" (University of California Press, 2002), pp. 146-150
*

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • splittail — /split tayl /, n. a minnow, Pogonichthys macrolepidotus, of the Sacramento River, having the upper lobe of the tail much longer than the lower lobe: habitat changes have greatly reduced its numbers. [1880 85, Amer.; SPLIT + TAIL1] * * * …   Universalium

  • splittail — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun 1. : a California market fish (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) of the family Cyprinidae 2. : pintail 3. : a tail in which some of the feathers are out of line * * * /split tayl /, n. a minnow, Pogonichthys macrolepidotus, of the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Marsh Creek (California) — Coordinates: 38°00′52″N 121°41′04″W / 38.01444°N 121.68444°W / 38.01444; 121.68444 …   Wikipedia

  • Wine Country (California) — The Wine Country is a region of Northern California in the United States known worldwide as a premium wine growing region. [ Fodor s Escape to the Wine Country: California s Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino , Publisher: Fodor s ISBN 10: 067900918307… …   Wikipedia

  • Sonoma County, California — For the wine region, see Sonoma County wine. County of Sonoma   County   Lake Sonoma …   Wikipedia

  • Napa River — Coordinates: 38°4′12″N 122°14′38″W / 38.07°N 122.24389°W / 38.07; 122.24389 …   Wikipedia

  • Sonoma Creek — Geobox|River name = Sonoma Creek native name = other name = category = stream etymology = nickname = image caption = Waterfall at Sugarloaf Mountain headwaters of Sonoma Creek country = United States state = California region = Sonoma and Napa… …   Wikipedia

  • List of endangered animal species — This is a list of endangered animal species according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List. The list includes endangered species of the kingdom Animalia. NOTOC A* Acheilognathus elongatus * Acipenser Endangered * Acrocephalus… …   Wikipedia

  • Politicization of science — The politicization of science is the manipulation of science for political gain. It occurs when government, business, or interest groups use legal or economic pressure to influence the findings of scientific research or the way the it is… …   Wikipedia

  • California Coastal Conservancy — The California Coastal Conservancy is a state agency in California established in 1976 to enhance coastal resources and access. GoalsThe agency s official goals are to: *Protect and improve coastal wetlands, streams and watersheds *Help people… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”