Roundtail chub
(Gila robusta)
General data
The roundtail chub (Gila robusta) is a cyprinid fish in the genus Gila, of southwestern North America. It is native to the Colorado River drainage basin, including the Gila River and other tributaries, and in several other rivers. It is part of the robusta complex, which includes the Gila robusta robusta, G.r. grahami, and G.r. seminuda.
The body of the roundtail chub is significantly larger forward of the dorsal fin, and posteriorly it is tapered towards the tail. The forehead area is concave. The mouth is largish, but does not reach as far as the pupil of the eye, and is overhung by the snout.
The tail is deeply forked.
Color is a grayish brown above, and a lighter shade below. Mature males sometimes acquire red-orange lower cheeks and paired fins during breeding season.
Roundtail chub can reach almost 49 cm (19.5 in), but usually only grow to about 25–30 cm (10–12 in). Recently, it has been recorded at up to 43 cm in length.
Roundtail chub are also described to be trout-like because they possess a large mouth with the lower lip outlined in black.
Its range of is within the Colorado River drainage basin, found from the headwaters down to the mouth, in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and California, and northwest Mexico; as well as in other rivers of northwestern Mexico.
This species is rather variable, and formerly accounted as several species, until intermediate forms were discovered. Recognized subspecies include:
Gila robusta grahami
Gila robusta jordani - small streams along the White River (Nevada)
Gila robusta robusta - small rivers
Gila robusta seminuda
The roundtail chub has been extirpated from the Zuni and San Francisco Rivers of New Mexico.[2]
In Arizona, specifically in Gila, Mohave, and Yavapai Counties, the roundtail chub occupies several tributaries: Fossil Creek, Oak Creek, Burro Creek, Francis Creek, Big Sandy River, Santa Maria River, Boulder Creek, Trout Creek, Sycamore Creek, Beaverhead Springs, and throughout the Verde River. It is also found in the Gila River and the Rio Yaqui.
