Bigmouth chub
(Nocomis platyrhynchus)
General data
The bigmouth chub (Nocomis platyrhynchus) is a species of fish native to New River drainage in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, USA.
The bigmouth chub has a body length that averages 15 centimeters and can reach up to 22 centimeters. The chub has an elongated body that is nearly circular in cross section. It has a triangular head and a pointy snout.
The mouth of the chub is medium-sized and has a barbell on each side.
The chub has eight dorsal fin rays, eight pelvic fin rays, seven anal fin rays, and fourteen to seventeen pectoral fin rays.
The fish is covered with cycloid scales. The scales on the chub’s dorsal section, or top of the fish, have brown pigment. The scales on the ventral section, or bottom of the fish, lack pigment and are white in appearance.
It is generally found in pools and fast moving waterways in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia. Many populations are located in the New River of West Virginia and its tributaries. The fish prefers clear rivers with warm temperatures. The substrate of rivers inhabited by the bigmouth chub ranges from pebbles to boulders. It avoids the shallowest parts of rivers and waterways, and tends to be found near substrate.
